ScotRail was the bran name under which British Rail and, following privatisation, National Express operated passenger rail services in Scotland and cross border services to Northern England and London. The franchise transferred from National Express to First Group, under the name First ScotRail, on 17 October 2004 after First Group outbid National Express in the first re-franchising round post privatisation. National Express operated the franchise for a total of seven years, from 1997 through to 2004.