Nicola Sturgeon has called on the UK Government to "intervene immediately" to avert a rail strike over the festive period.
The First Minister and the general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Roz Foyer want all parties to get around the table to end the pay and conditions dispute.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union (RMT) are set to take strike action from 6pm on Christmas Eve until 7am on December 27 and again on January 3 and 4, and then on January 6 and 7.
ScotRail has previous warned passengers to only commute if necessary as Network Rail workers are set to hit the picket line. The dispute does not involve the nationalised firm but it will have a major impact on its services.
Network Rail employees who are in safety-critical roles such as signallers and maintenance staff will be on strike. Sturgeon is now calling on the UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper to meet with unions in order to resolve the situation.
She said: "The Secretary of State for Transport must intervene immediately and work with the trades unions to secure a railway that benefits users, staff and the wider public."
Last week talks between Mick Lynch (general secretary of the RMT) and the UK Government's Rail Minister Huw Merriman failed to reach an agreement.
It led to Network Rail staff walking out on December 16 and 17.
Sturgeon added: "The Scottish Government has maintained constructive discussions with the trades unions and settled our own pay negotiations by embracing the concept of fair work.
"Despite this, passengers in Scotland still face severe disruption as a direct result of the ongoing UK-wide rail dispute between Network Rail, UK Government rail operators and the trades unions and Network Rail employees in Scotland face entering the New Year still with no pay rise.
"The repercussions of this dispute, and the UK Government’s refusal to engage constructively with the trades unions, are continuing to have a major impact not only for the rail workers but for passengers, freight, businesses and the wider public in Scotland over the festive period and into 2023."
Train passengers are being urged to complete journeys as early as lunchtime on Christmas Eve, meaning many people will opt for car or coach travel instead.
The RAC predicted 7.9 million getaway journeys will be made over the two days immediately before Christmas Day.
Foyer blamed the UK Government blamed its approach to negotiations for the strike action that is due to take place over the next two weeks.
She said: "We all want to see an end to the rail dispute, and for workers to be awarded a fair pay offer that is not conditional on cuts to staffing and services. In Scotland workers have already agreed their pay claim, but we are still seeing widespread disruption on our railways.
"This is due to the combative approach to negotiations taken by the UK Government which has led to the protracted dispute between Network Rail and the UK Government.
"The rail unions and Scottish Government have come to a negotiated settlement and we need the UK Government to take a similar approach that results in workers at Network Rail and other UK-Government-controlled rail companies getting the deal they deserve."
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "The Government ensured two very fair pay deals were on the table, but the RMT rejected them and, instead, opted to prolong its disruption. The Government and industry have played our part and we now urge the unions to play theirs."
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