Scotrail customers have been urged to prepare for 'significant' disruption when Network Rail strike action takes place both later this month and in August.
Just five Scotrail routes will operate on Wednesday 27 July, Thursday 18 August and Saturday 20 August - with final services departing 'well before 18.30', with customers warned to 'plan ahead to ensure they know when their last train will run'.
Although the Network Rail dispute does not involve ScotRail staff, the strike action will have a major knock-on effect on the train operator’s ability to provide services as the RMT planned action will involve Network Rail staff in Scotland.
Many of the Network Rail staff that are due to take part in the planned industrial action occupy safety-critical roles and, as such, it will not be possible for ScotRail to run the vast majority of services, warned the train provider.
During the strike action, the railway will only be operational between 07.30 and 18.30 and the below services will run on these days:
- Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk High: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh – Bathgate: two trains per hour
- Glasgow – Hamilton/Larkhall: two trains per hour
- Glasgow – Lanark: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh – Glasgow via Shotts: one train per hour
Scotrail also warned that disruption would not be limited to just the days of the Network Rail strike, writing: "Disruption to ScotRail services will not be confined to the days of strike action themselves but will also affect the day before (Tuesday, 26 July) and the days following them – Thursday, 28 July, Friday, 19 August, and Sunday, 21 August.
"On Tuesday, 26 July, there will be a small number of trains cancelled. This is to allow trains to be moved into the right position, as on most routes, trains cannot be moved again until 07.15 on Thursday, 28 July. By taking action on the Tuesday evening, it will help to ensure that as many passenger trains can operate on Thursday morning.
"On the days following strike action, there will be disruption caused by the reopening of signal boxes at different times across the country. Signal boxes are key pieces of infrastructure located across the rail network that control train movements. Their use is critical to ensure that the railway can operate safely.
"While many workstations at the larger signalling centres will be able to operate from 07.15, this will not be the case for them all or for manual boxes elsewhere, and it may well be later in the day before many routes are able to operate as normal. This is particularly the case for routes out with the central belt."
Customers are advised to check the ScotRail app or visit scotrail.co.uk for the latest information before travelling.
READ NEXT:
Airdrie mum to star in TV renovation show after spending £250k on derelict castle
'Ultimate fixer-upper' located on Scottish Island on the market for £15k
Glasgow Property: Inside the 'incredible' £1 million home just outside the city
Scottish Greens launch campaign to stop Flamingo Land development on Loch Lomond
Scottish Peppa Pig sends TikTok into hysterics after wife accidentally buys wrong book
