Scots are set for another round of RMT rail strike action this weekend, which will see services heavily reduced as workers walk out as part of an ongoing pay dispute.
There are two separate strikes taking place; a Network Rail strike on Saturday, October 8, and a ScotRail strike on Monday, October 10. While services will be significantly reduced during both walkouts, the ScotRail strikes on Monday will see "a very limited number of services" running.
Speaking about the strikes taking place on Saturday, Mick Lynch, the general secretary of the RMT, said: “We will continue to negotiate in good faith, but the employers and government need to understand our industrial campaign will continue for as long as it takes.”
As for the strikes taking place on Monday, Mr Lynch said: "ScotRail knows this offer is not good enough and needs to take into account the escalating cost of living crisis. Our members refuse to be made poorer and will exercise their industrial strength to let ScotRail know that they will not rest until they are paid what they deserve."
Mick Hogg, RMT Scottish organiser, told the PA News Agency: “The five percent goes no where near the cost of living crisis and constitutes a pay cut, not acceptable to RMT members. Enough is enough. RMT members are not prepared to sit back and watch the bosses get richer at the expense of the workers who deliver for ScotRail…the 5% is a kick in the teeth, therefore we want more.
“If we don’t get more we will strike until we win or until someone says, ‘if it’s good enough for the bosses it’s good enough for the workers’.”
Many Scots will want to know how these strikes could impact them, as ScotRail has said that there will be "significant disruptions". Here is everything that you need to know about the upcoming industrial action on October 8 and October 10.
W hat lines will be running?
Network Rail strikes - October 8
While Network Rail do not operate ScotRail, safety-critical signallers and maintenance workers will be walking out on October 10. This will see Scottish services reduced to just 11 services across the central belt.
The running services are as follows:
- Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk High: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh – Helensburgh: 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
- Edinburgh – Cowdenbeath: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh – Tweedbank: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh - Larbert: one train per hour
- Glasgow Queen St – Larbert: one train per hour
- Glasgow Queen St – Falkirk Grahamston: one train per hour
- Milngavie – Springburn: two trains per hour
ScotRail has reminded customers that, as has been the case in previous strikes, services running on Friday night and services running on Sunday morning could be impacted by the walkouts. This is because of the closing and reopening of signal boxes at different times across the country.
Passengers should check that their services are running before planning a trip.
ScotRail strikes - October 10
Services will be more significantly impacted as ScotRail workers, including conductors, ticket examiners, hospitality and station staff, walk out on October 10. Just three services will be running across Scotland.
The running services are as follows:
- Milngavie – Edinburgh: two trains per hour
- Glasgow – Lanark: one train per hour
- Glasgow – Larkhall: one train per hour
Disruption could continue after the strike as ScotRail has said that their workers will be refusing overtime work.
An announcement on the Scottish Rail operator's website states: "The RMT has also advised that its general grades members will take part in an overtime and rest day working ban as part of action short of a strike from Friday, 14 October, which will have some impact to ScotRail services until the dispute is resolved."
When do services end?
On both strike days, ScotRail services will run between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
As was the case with previous strike action, services end at 6.30pm but departing trains may leave up to an hour before that. If you have to get a last service, make sure that you know when it departs and arrive in plenty of time.
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