ScotRail will be forced to cancel more than 95 per cent of its services next week due to strike action.
The rail operator confirmed that due to strike action next week by RMT members of Network Rail, customers can expect the vast majority of services to be cancelled.
Strike action by signal workers will take place next Tuesday (21st), Thursday (23rd), and Saturday (25th).
Just five ScotRail routes will remain operational in the Central Belt, with no other services on all other routes across Scotland.
On Tuesday, June 7, the RMT union announced three days of strike action across the Great Britain railway network resulting from a pay dispute with Network Rail and some Department for Transport train operating companies.
While the dispute does not involve ScotRail staff, it will have a major knock-on effect on the train operator’s ability to provide services as the RMT planned action will involve Network Rail staff in Scotland.
READ MORE: Glasgow Ed Sheeran fans face travel chaos with no trains to city centre after Hampden gig
For more information on this, visit the National Rail website at National Rail Enquiries - Industrial Action.
Customers have been advised to only travel on available routes if they have no other option and to consider alternative options where possible.
The railway will only be operational between 7.30am and 6.30pm on June 21, 23, and 25.
The below services will run on these days:
- 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 will depart well before 6.30pm, so customers should plan ahead to ensure they know when their last train will run.
Disruption to ScotRail services will not be confined to the days of strike action and will also impact the day following each day of action – 22nd (Wednesday), 24th (Friday), and 26th (Sunday) June.
On the days following strike action, there will be disruption caused by the reopening of signal boxes at different times across the country.
While large signalling centres in the Central Belt will be able to operate from 7.15am, this will not be the case at signal boxes elsewhere and it may well be later in the day before many routes are able to operate as normal. This is particularly the case for routes beyond the Central Belt.
Customers are advised to check the ScotRail app or visit scotrail.co.uk for the latest information before travelling.
David Simpson, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, 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. Customers should expect significant disruption to services next week, including on the days between strike action.
“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.”
