Key Ayrshire train services look set to be slashed by ScotRail – leading to travel chaos.
Only 70 per cent of weekday services will run as of next week due a shortage of drivers who are locked in a pay dispute.
The last trains to busy Ayrshire stations will be cut by hours, with some final journeys leaving Glasgow as early as 6.18pm.
And express trains – which skip a host of stations between Ayr and Glasgow – have been axed, meaning increased journey times.
The cuts have been described as ‘devastating for passengers’ with some towns set to be cut off and commuters facing a headache over earlier trains.
ScotRail has confirmed they will introduce the new schedule on Monday and it will see 700 weekday services cut.
Services have been slashed due to ongoing pay issues with drivers, with ScotRail telling customers they have been reliant on drivers working overtime and on rest days.
Bosses also say the impact of the pandemic meant they were unable to train new drivers and have blamed Covid for the company losing out on having 130 new drivers fully trained.
Drivers have rejected an offer of a 2.2 per cent pay rise, leading to staff shortages.
Drivers' union ASLEF had balloted members for strike action after rejecting the offer.
West Scotland MSP Katy Clark has slammed the cuts and rail bosses for blaming their own staff.
The Labour representative said: “These cuts are devastating for passengers who rely on what are essential services.
“After years of shambolic management by Abellio, public ownership was an opportunity to invest in rail services.
“Instead, vital routes like the one to Irvine, which had already seen its service reduced compared to pre-pandemic, are being slashed yet again.
“Even worse, ScotRail are trying to pin the blame on rail workers for their own failures rather than come forward with a strategy and get round the table with their unions.
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “We are very sorry to customers for the disruption of recent days. We know what customers want more than anything is certainty and reliability, which is why we are introducing a temporary timetable.
“We want to resolve this dispute with the trade unions and move forward together to provide the safest, greenest, and most reliable railway we can for Scotland. We remain open to further talks with the trade unions.
“We’re asking customers to check their journey on our website, mobile app, and through our social media channels as train times will have changed.”
Hourly daytime services to and from Largs and Ardrossan Harbour will be maintained.
However, several early morning and late evening trains will be cancelled.
You can view the full timetable here.
Meanwhile, here is the grim timetable facing customers...
- Last trains to Ayr: 1356 from Stranrarer, 1912 from Girvan
- Last trains to Glasgow: 1931 from Ardrossan Harbour, 1954 from Largs, 2145 from Ayr
- Last train to Ardrossan: 1818 from Glasgow Central
- Last train to Largs: 1945 from Glasgow Central
- Last train to Ayr: 2200 from Glasgow Central
- Last train to Girvan: 1712 from Glasgow Central
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