Ayrshire commuters are set for a travel nightmare before Christmas as rail workers get set to strike.
Train services to and from the region will be axed for FIVE days as RMT workers get set for a major walk out over an ongoing pay dispute.
A winter shutdown will affect all routes on the days of industrial action - Tuesday 13, Wednesday 14, Friday 16 and Saturday 17. But services will also be hammered on Thursday, December 15 with rail infrastructure unable to cope with a normal service due to the impact of strikes.
ScotRail staff say that the strikes will lead to 'significant disruption' across their entire network.
The Network Rail workers set to go on strike take up roles which occupy "safety critical" roles including the operation of signal boxes.
Only 12 services across the central belt, Fife and the Borders will run strike days on a restricted timetable between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
Network Rail RMT members are currently voting on a pay offer, with their ballot due to close on Monday, December 12.
But rail chiefs have warned that even if strike action was called off in the 11th hour, it would take them 48 hours to restore the service to normal.
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.”
RMT are also planning to strike on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and in the first week on January.
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