Lockerbie rail passengers are facing more disruption over the next few days due to strike action.
Members of both the Aslef train drivers union and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are planning walkouts, with Aslef members having already downed tools on Wednesday.
It means a number of rail operators, including Avanti West Coast, will be running a reduced timetable today, when RMT members walkout, and no services tomorrow. Disruption is also expected on Sunday.
The strikes are the latest in the long-running row between the unions and train operators in disputes over pay, jobs and conditions.
Aslef general secretary, Mick Whelan said no negotiations aimed at resolving the situation are taking place, while the Department for Transport (DfT) insisted it has “facilitated a fair and reasonable pay offer”.
Mr Whelan, whose members are due to strike again on Saturday, said: “There are no negotiations since they came out with yet another deal that contained all our ‘red lines’.
“If you spend months in a room, tell people things aren’t acceptable to you, then they produce a deal that contains those things then they are setting the deal up to fail.
“That is a deliberate act on behalf of both the Government and the people that we’re dealing with. They do not apparently want a resolution.”
ScotRail is not involved in the dispute but has warned a “small number” of services between Dumfries and Carlisle could be disrupted.
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: “The upcoming rail strikes called by the Aslef and RMT leadership will not only affect our passengers’ daily commute, but will also impact those travelling to and from events across the country, causing disappointment and frustration for tens of thousands of people.
“We understand the impact of these strikes on individuals and businesses alike, and we can only apologise for this unnecessary and damaging disruption.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson added: “These strikes have been co-ordinated by union leaders to disrupt passengers in a week which will see major events such as the first ever all Manchester FA Cup final, the Epsom Derby and a number of concerts and festivals across the UK.
“Not content with impacting the hundreds of thousands of people who have looked forward to these events all year round, unions are also targeting their own members’ pockets by forcing them to miss out on pay every time they strike.
