The first day of multiple rail strikes will take place across the UK today.
Thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Network Rail and 13 train operators will walk out today (Tuesday), Thursday and Saturday.
While the dispute over pay, jobs and conditions is not connected to ScotRail, the vast majority of routes in Scotland will be cancelled on the strike days.
This is due to the fact that Scottish routes rely on RMT workers for a number of functions, including signal operators.
Only five routes will be running today in the Central Belt with no other services across the country.
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ScotRail will only operate services on the remaining routes between the hours of 07.30 and 18.30. These routes are:
- 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
Final services on the five operational routes will depart well before 18.30, so customers are advised to plan ahead to ensure they know when their last train will run.
ScotRail has also warned that widespread disruption is expected on the days following the strike action due to the reopening of signal boxes at different times across the day.
David Simpson, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, previously said: “It is very unfortunate to see such widespread disruption across the whole of the Great Britain rail network and we know this will be frustrating for ScotRail customers.
“Regrettably, this strike action by RMT members of Network Rail means that we will not be able to operate the vast majority of our services during the period of strike action.
“We’re reminding customers to expect significant disruption to services this week, including on the days between, and following, strike action which will impact customers travelling to events across the country.
“On the five routes where we are able to operate a very limited service on strike days, we’re urging customers to only travel if they really need to, and to seek alternative means of transport where possible.”
