Edinburgh travellers were facing long bus journeys on Thursday morning due to ongoing train disruptions. Train delays and cancellations caused by strikes have left commuters without compensation and forced them to take the bus instead.
The RMT members of Network Rail are protesting for fare wages and better work conditions on June 21, 23, and 25 causing significant disruptions to many journeys. On the second day of the strike, Edinburgh Live headed down to the bus station to ask the passengers how they were feeling about the train disruptions and the walkout. Some of the buses are also delayed and the queues are getting longer.
READ MORE - Edinburgh Toby Carvery responds after diner slams worst service they've ever had
Caroline, emergency service worker, is travelling home to Dundee with her friend after attending Eagles concert. Her original plan was to take the train and now her bus journey is expected to be much longer and not that much cheaper. “It is my birthday today. Our train was cancelled and now our bus is delayed. I am not supporting the strikes today,” she said.
Jeanette, a fertility councillor, had a similar situation. She is travelling to Cupar to pay her sister a visit and is supposed to sit through a much longer journey on the bus. The woman also expressed her thoughts about the strike: “Because they are earning so much money already, I think they are just being greedy.”
An HR administrator from Aberdeen is planning her trip to Stirling. She, like many other passengers here, was supposed to take a train. “There is no train today hence why my trip is so much longer and inconvenient now. Originally I booked a bus that had 60 stops and now I changed to another one, which is hopefully a bit faster.”
Marta, a student at Glasgow University, is heading home on the bus. “I don’t really mind buses since I have my Young Scots card and I get a free ride.”
On the positive note, the increased traffic at the bus station equals more customers for the local coffee shops. Staff members at a local cafe right by the bus station are saying the business is booming on the days of the strikes.
"During train strikes we are getting so many customers. It is good for our business but we are not supportive of strikes,” said Ranuka, one of the staff members.
Edinburgh resident forced to use mobility scooter on roads due to 'bad parking'
Car smashes into sign on busy Scottish road as cops race to the incident
Midlothian movie buff transforms old Volkswagen Beetle into Herbie replica
Spectacular East Lothian church with massive garden goes on sale for £100,000
Scottish pupils flee school bus as it bursts into flames on busy road
