ScotRail have warned passengers to only travel if necessary ahead of strike action.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are carrying out five days worth of strikes across December following a lengthy dispute over pay. Network Rail Scotland staff will be taking part and as they carry out essential work, the majority of trains cannot run in Scotland.
ScotRail have released their revised timetable that will run during the strike days. They warn commuters to expect significant disruption either side of the strike days too as signal boxes open and close. Union members are set to walk out on Tuesday December 13, Wednesday December 14, Friday December 16 and Saturday December 17 if a pay deal is not agreed on by Monday.
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ScotRail also warn that although December 15 is not a strike day, the limited timetable will run on that day due to the closing and reopening of signal boxes at different times throughout the day.
Trains running on strike days
Services will only run on a dozen routes across the central belt, Fife and the Borders between 7.30am and 6.30pm. Those services are:
- Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Helensburgh Central: two trains per hour
- Glasgow Central – Hamilton/Larkhall: two trains per hour
- Glasgow Central – Lanark: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Central via Shotts: one train per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Cowdenbeath: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Tweedbank: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – North Berwick: one train per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Larbert: 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
There will also be some disruption on the days before (December 12) and after (December 18).
View lists of cancelled/amended services:
Train times will be available in Journey Planner and the ScotRail App in the coming days. Please check train times for your entire journey, including the first or/and last train times, before you travel.
Travellers are being urged to make alternative arrangements where possible. They can claim compensation through the Delay Repay scheme if their service has been cancelled. Tickets can also be used on a delayed basis until December 20.
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “It’s really disappointing to see more widespread disruption across the whole Great Britain rail network as a result of the dispute between Network Rail and the RMT at a time when we need to be encouraging more people back to the railway.
“For ScotRail, it’s going to mean that we won’t be able to operate the vast majority of our services between 13 and 17 December, which we know will be really frustrating for our customers. We’re advising customers to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel if they really need to on the days of strike action.
“Customers should check their journey in advance to make sure your train is running.”
Liam Sumpter, route director for Network Rail Scotland, said: “We understand the impact this strike action will have and we are working hard to keep as many passengers as possible moving during the next phase of RMT industrial action. We remain committed to working with the RMT to find a solution to this dispute and avert disruption at this important time of the year, but we also need to find a pay deal that is fair on the taxpayers who fund our railway.
“Please check your journey in advance next week as those services that are operating will finish much earlier in the evening.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “We remain available for talks in order to resolve these issues but we will not bow to pressure from the employers and the government to the detriment of our members."
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