ScotRail has warned of further ‘significant disruption’ today following the first day of strike action action on the rail network yesterday.
The rail firm advised customers of delays to the service due to the reopening of Network Rail signal boxes as many striking staff return to work today.
It comes after tens of thousands of Network Rail workers walked out as the biggest rail strike in 30 years kicked off on Tuesday.
Similar disruption will be felt on services beyond ScotRail following the industrial action.
READ MORE: Rail strike explained as tens of thousands walk out in biggest train strike in decades
A spokesperson for ScotRail said: “There’ll be significant disruption across the country today, due to the reopening of Network Rail signal boxes at different times throughout the day.
“This follows today’s strike action by Network Rail RMT members, and so services will start later than normal.”
Network Rail staff picketed at stations across Scotland and the rest of the UK yesterday as part of three days of strike action.
The RMT will resume strikes on Thursday and Saturday this week - which will bring heavy disruption to Scotland’s rail network throughout the week.
ScotRail will operate on a severely reduced timetable over those two days, with just five services in operation in the central belt until 6.30pm on the days of strikes.
Services from ScotRail will not be operating across the rest of Scotland on Thursday and Saturday.
RMT union members voted ‘overwhelmingly’ to go ahead with the strikes last month amid a dispute over job security, safety and pay.
Officials are seeking a seven per cent pay rise for staff, which the RMT has said reflects on the cost of living crisis.
Commenting on the first day of strikes, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “Today’s turnout at picket lines has been fantastic and exceeded expectations in our struggle for job security, defending conditions and a decent pay rise.
“Our members will continue the campaign and have show outstanding unity in pursuit of a settlement to this dispute.
“RMT members are leading he way for all workers in this country who are sick and tired of having their pay and conditions slashed by a mixture of big business profits and government policy.
“Now is the time to stand up and fight for every single railway worker in this dispute that we will win.”
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