Scots travellers have been warned that rail services will be significantly reduced this week as more strikes go ahead.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers have announced that they will go ahead with their 24-hour rail strike on Wednesday, July 27 after no breakthrough has been made in talks with rail bosses.
While ScotRail is not included in the action, its services will be impacted as Network Rail Scotland signallers and maintenance staff in safety-critical roles will be taking part in the walk-out.
Scotland's services will be heavily reduced as they were in June's RMT action when services were cut back to a near-holt nationwide.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Strike action will take place next Wednesday as planned and our members are more determined than ever to secure a decent pay rise, job security and good working conditions."
For those who are unsure, here are the details of the strike action and how it will impact Scottish services.
How long will the strike action last?
The strike action will last 24 hours, covering the entirety of Wednesday July 27, with 40,000 workers across Network Rail taking part.
As was the case in June's industrial action, the impact of the strike will cause disruptions before and after the action takes place.
This is because overnight services will not be able to run before the action, and services may have a delayed start on the day following the action as signal boxes reopen at different times across the country.
What services will be impacted?
As was the case during the last strike, ScotRail services will be reduced to just five routes which will run between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
The running lines are as follows:
- 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
All Caledonian Sleeper services for Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 July have also been cancelled, despite staff not participating in the strike action.
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, told the PA news agency: “On the five routes where we are able to operate a very limited service on strike days, we’re advising customers to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel if they really need to.”
“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.
"Customers should expect significant disruption to services on strike days, as well as the following day.
Will there be more strikes?
Yes. There are more RMT strikes scheduled for next month which are set to take place on 18 and 20 August.
ScotRail will not be included - having recently returned to a full timetable following successful pay negotiations with drivers' union ASLEF - but services will once again be cut back due to signallers walking out.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Network Rail have not made any improvement on their previous pay offer and the Train Companies have not offered us anything new.
"In fact Network Rail have upped the ante threatening to impose compulsory redundancies and unsafe 50% cuts to maintenance work, if we did not withdraw our planned strike action.
The RMT have said that more strikes are to be expected if settlements are not reached with Mr Lynch saying: " RMT will continue to negotiate in good faith but we will not be bullied or cajoled by anyone."
Meanwhile, a walk out is set to go ahead on Glasgow’s subway following a 99% vote for strike action on an 83% member turnout.
Strikes are scheduled for August 6, 9, 13 and 27 in response to a dispute over changes to duty schedules, with Unite union saying its members are facing “significant work-life pressures” due to short notice call-ins.
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