Train passengers are being warned to expect "significant disruption" across ScotRail services next week as unionised railway workers go on strike.
Network Rail staff affiliated with the RMT union are set to walk out on Tuesday December 13, Wednesday December 14, Friday December 16 and Saturday December 17 if a pay deal is not agreed on by Monday. Members are currently being balloted on the pay offer, which union bosses are telling them to refuse, with further strikes planned for over Christmas and in January.
While ScotRail staff are not directly involved in the strikes, staff absences across Scotland's railway will see services hampered. ScotRail itself says that many of the staff expected to strike are in "safety-critical roles" such as signalling, affecting the number of trains they can put on during the industrial action.
However, the limited timetable will also be in effect on Thursday December 15, even though staff will not be on strike. Network Rail says this is because its "complex" equipment cannot be made ready again in that time amidst ongoing industrial action.
In all, services will only run on a dozen routes across the central belt, Fife and the Borders between 7.30am and 6.30pm. Those services are:
- Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Helensburgh Central: two trains per hour
- Glasgow Central – Hamilton/Larkhall: two trains per hour
- Glasgow Central – Lanark: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Central via Shotts: one train per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Cowdenbeath: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Tweedbank: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – North Berwick: one train per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Larbert: one train per hour
- Glasgow Queen Street – Larbert: one train per hour
- Glasgow Queen Street – Falkirk Grahamston: one train per hour
- Milngavie – Springburn: two trains per hour
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Travellers are being advised to make alternative arrangements where possible - and to claim their compensation through the Delay Repay scheme if their service has been cancelled. Tickets can also be used on a delayed basis until December 20.
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.”
Liam Sumpter, route director for Network Rail Scotland, said: “We understand the impact this strike action will have and we are working hard to keep as many passengers as possible moving during the next phase of RMT industrial action. We remain committed to working with the RMT to find a solution to this dispute and avert disruption at this important time of the year, but we also need to find a pay deal that is fair on the taxpayers who fund our railway.
“Please check your journey in advance next week as those services that are operating will finish much earlier in the evening.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the union had been compelled to call for a strike due to what it called the "continuing intransigence" of Network Rail.
He said: “We remain available for talks in order to resolve these issues but we will not bow to pressure from the employers and the government to the detriment of our members."
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