ScotRail bosses are warning of "significant disruption" over Christmas thanks to strike action - and are warning passengers to plan their Christmas travel carefully
Thousands of members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) employed by Network Rail will walk out from 6pm on Christmas Eve until 6am on December 27 as their dispute over jobs, pay and conditions continues.
David Simpson, ScotRail’s service delivery director, said the strike would result in last trains running earlier than usual on Christmas Eve, no Boxing Day services, and later first trains on December 27.
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He said: “It’s really disappointing to see more 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.
“We know this is really frustrating for everyone impacted and we’re urging customers to plan ahead and check their entire journey in advance.”
The early shutdown on Christmas Eve could scupper the transport plans of football supporters as services will start winding down from 3pm.
Fans watching games including Dundee United against Hearts, and Hibernian vs Livingston, have been told to plan their journeys home in advance.
Services are due to follow the normal timetable between December 28 and 30 but, on Hogmanay, services will stop earlier than usual.
And travellers face more woe in the new year, with the RMT announcing strike plans for January 3 and 4, as well as January 6 and 7.
Those dates were announced after talks between RMT leader Mick Lynch and Rail Minister Hew Merriman failed last week, with negotiations between the two sides remaining deadlocked.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “The dispute is not going to be solved through strike action, only through negotiation.
“TSSA and Unite members have both voted to resoundingly accept the very same deal that the RMT continue to reject.
“Our offer, which is worth over 9% over two years, with a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies and no changes to anyone’s terms and conditions, remains on the table.”
RMT members held strikes last weekend, causing major disruption across Scotland and the UK.
After those strikes, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: "I congratulate RMT members who have shown enormous dignity and rock-solid fortitude throughout this 48-hour strike.
"They have shown how important their work is to the functioning of the economy and wider society.
"All they want is a negotiated settlement on job security, a decent pay rise and good working conditions.
"And they are determined to continue their industrial campaign until an agreed resolution is achieved."
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