There will be no trains running in Renfrewshire on two days this week as Network Rail workers strike for better pay and conditions.
The strike action will see over 40,000 workers across Network Rail and 14 train operating companies down tools, affecting commuters in Paisley and beyond.
ScotRail will be running a very limited number of services on Thursday, August 18 and Saturday, August 20, with “specially-trained and fully qualified back-up staff” being brought in by Network Rail.
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Those running include services between Edinburgh and Glasgow, but there will be no services running in Renfrewshire at all.
Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) say that the “dispute will not simply vanish”, and last month upon announcing the strikes, called on the government and the rail industry to offer a pay deal which “helps deal with the cost-of-living crisis, job security for our members and provides good conditions at work”.
Network Rail have warned passengers to plan journeys in advance and only travel by train if absolutely necessary on the days of strike action.
Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, who earns nearly £600,000 per year, said: “It saddens me that we are again having to ask passengers to stay away from the railway for two days next week due to unnecessary strike action, when we should be helping them enjoy their summers.
“We have made a good and fair offer but, with the exception of our TSSA management grades who accepted the deal, our unions are refusing to let our employees have a say, and sadly that means more disruption on the rail network.
“We’ll run as many services as we can next Thursday and Saturday, but it will only be around a fifth of the usual timetable, so please only travel if absolutely necessary and if you must travel, plan ahead and check when your last train will be.”
David Simpson, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said: ”Customers should expect significant disruption to services on strike days, as well as the following day.
“We are able to operate on more routes than on the previous day of strike action, however, we are still only able to run a very limited number of services on these routes, so we’re advising customers to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel if they really need to.”
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