The rail network in Scotland is due to face massive disruption this week due to strike action.
Staff members at Network Rail, who are in the RMT union, have announced that they will be striking for two days this week as a result of a pay dispute.
Most Scotrail services will be cancelled, even though the dispute does not involve that train operator. But because signallers will be striking, this affects most of the journeys that usually operate.
People have been advised to only travel if it's completely necessary and expect 'significant disruption' if they do choose to travel.
David Simpson, Network Rail's service delivery director, said: "It is very unfortunate to see such widespread disruption across the whole of the Great Britain rail network and we know this will be frustrating for ScotRail customers.
“Regrettably, this strike action by RMT members of Network Rail means that we will not be able to operate the vast majority of our services during the period of strike action."
How long will the strike action last?
The strikes will take place on Thursday, August 18 and Saturday, August 20.
Disruption is also likely to be felt the day after the strikes, with signal boxes in the central belt able to be turned on at around 7.15am.
According to ScotRail, it could take into the afternoon to restore services in other areas.
What services are affected?
There will be no ScotRail services running on August 18 and 20 except for the following:
- Glasgow Central – Lanark: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Central via Shotts: one train per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Inverkeithing: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Tweedbank: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – North Berwick: one train per hour
- Glasgow Queen Street – Larbert: one train per hour
- Glasgow Queen Street – Falkirk Grahamston: one train per hour
- Milngavie – Springburn: two trains per hour
These services will start at 7.30am and end 'well before' 6.30pm, the operator has said.
The previous strike action by the union saw the number of services drop to 178, but it will increase to 378 on this occasion so that some trains can go to Fife and the east coast.
RMT secretary general Mick Lynch said the dispute was “not just about a wage rise”.
“The Government and the employers want to slash jobs, terms and conditions as well as services like ticket offices,” he said.
“The transport minister Grant Shapps is now threatening our members with P&O style fire and rehire and the reintroduction of Driver Only Operated services, which will lead to a fall in safety standards and job losses.
“If Mr Shapps proceeds on this course, RMT will use the industrial mandate it has from its 40,000 members in this dispute to take more strike action in the coming weeks and months."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
Plane heading for Glasgow performs mid-air U-turn after transmitting emergency signal
Women with cancer 'abandoned' in Tenerife as dream holiday turns into nightmare
Pushing back Royal Mail office opening times could mean 'deliveries in the dark'
