Rail Disruption Expected

ScotRail says the majority of its train services will be unable to operate next Monday and Tuesday if UK-wide industrial action goes ahead.

RMT members are proposing to walk out for 24 hours because of a dispute over pay and jobs. ScotRail has drawn up a temporary timetable in the event the action goes ahead. Reduced services have been scheduled to run between Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, Cowdenbeath and Glenrothes.

While final details of amended timetables will not be confirmed until later this week, in order to give customers as much time as possible to make alternative arrangements, ScotRail has released early details of the services it anticipates it will be able to run in Scotland on 25 May and 26 May:

MONDAY 25 MAY ONLY

Glasgow Central – Paisley Gilmour Street
Glasgow Central  – Neilston via Queens Park
Glasgow Central – Newton via Maxwell Park

MONDAY 25 & TUESDAY 26 MAY
 

Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk High 
Edinburgh – Kirkcaldy – Glenrothes 
Edinburgh - Cowdenbeath - Glenrothes
Glasgow Central – East Kilbride
Glasgow Queen St (High Level) – Anniesland
Glasgow Queen St (Low Level) – Cumbernauld

Bosses say the above services are likely to run on a reduced basis and will operate largely between 07:15 and 17:45 hrs on the days listed. All other services will be cancelled all day Monday and Tuesday.

ScotRail has launched a dedicated web page www.scotrail.co.uk/strike where they will be posting timetables for the routes that will be running during the strike.

Phil Verster, managing director of the ScotRail Alliance, said: “If this UK-wide industrial action goes ahead as planned, the impact on customers is going to be severe. For the vast majority of people in Scotland, there will be no train service at all on these two days. 

“We will only be able to run a handful of services, and those that we are able to run will operate on a reduced service. Those services will be much busier than usual, so if customers are able to make other arrangements, I would kindly ask them to please do so.

“We have released this information early because it is our priority to make sure that our customers have enough time to make decisions about their journey.

“We have been in contact with employers and business organisations to let them know about the impact of the strike. We are also in touch with local authorities, the NHS and other public bodies to make sure that they are fully aware of what is happening. 

“I am disappointed that our customers have to experience this level of disruption. We are doing everything we can to safely run as many services as is possible under the circumstances. 

“I am asking customers to please take action now and to make alternative travel arrangements for Monday and Tuesday. Visit our special web page daily during the run up to the strike and use our JourneyCheck alert service, or the ScotRail app from Saturday onwards to make sure you have the most up to date information about your journey.

“I know that many people right across the country are going to be seriously inconvenienced by this UK-wide industrial action. I am genuinely sorry that, under these circumstances, we cannot run our normal levels of train services that our customers expect. I hope that by releasing the information early, we are giving customers and employers enough time to plan ahead and make other plans.”

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney said: “I am concerned to hear about the planned national strike action but am encouraged that both parties are back round the table at ACAS trying to resolve the dispute. I would urge both parties to work together to deliver a solution. It is essential that disruption to passengers is avoided.

“The Scottish Government’s Resilience operation is actively monitoring developments and receiving regular updates from the ScotRail Alliance, Transport Scotland and other key operators, as well as local resilience partnerships, local authorities, and representatives from the education and health sectors. Contingency plans are being made by transport authorities but passengers should expect widespread cancellations and disruption on the railways. We would ask commuters to think now about the changes that they could make to help ease the pressure on the transport network - especially on Tuesday. This could include working from home, car-sharing, avoiding travel at peak periods, or using buses to get to work.”

Transport Minister, Derek Mackay said: “We are fully expecting roads to be busier as a result of the rail strike and we are working with partners to do all we can to manage the likely increase in traffic. We will be monitoring the network from the Traffic Scotland National Control Centre and will be providing updates through the Traffic Scotland Twitter feed and website as well as internet radio. The Trunk Road Incident Support Service (TRISS) will be out from early morning patrolling the key parts of the network dealing with incidents as quickly as possible. Travel operators websites, Travel Line and Traffic Scotland will have all of the latest information and people should plan ahead and leave more time for their journey. Those travelling to the islands by ferry should also consider alternative options in relation to rail connections.”