ScotRail warns north-east customers of significant disruption during RMT Network Rail strike action
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Due to strike action by RMT members of Network Rail, ScotRail is warning customers to expect significant disruption.
Network Rail strike action will take place on Wednesday, July 27, Thursday, August 18, and Saturday, August 20.
This means a very limited number of services will operate on just five ScotRail routes in the central belt, with no service on all other routes.
The RMT union announced three days of strike action across the Great Britain railway network resulting from a pay dispute with Network Rail.
This dispute does not involve ScotRail staff, however, 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.
Many of the Network Rail staff that are due to take part in the planned industrial action occupy safety-critical roles and, as such, it will not be possible for ScotRail to run the vast majority of services.
The below services will run on these days with all other routes cancelled -
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.
Due to the greater reliance on manual signalling outside the central belt, Network Rail is unable to facilitate passenger services on any other routes on the strike days.
Disruption to ScotRail services will not be confined to the days of strike action themselves but will also affect the day before Tuesday, July 26 and the days following them – Thursday, 28 July, Friday, August 19, and Sunday, 21.
On Tuesday, 26 July, there will be a small number of trains cancelled.
This is to allow trains to be moved into the right position, as on most routes, trains cannot be moved again until 7.15am on Thursday, July 28.
By taking action on the Tuesday evening, it will help to ensure that as many passenger trains can operate on Thursday morning.
On the days following strike action, there will be disruption caused by the reopening of signal boxes at different times across the country.
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 on strike days, as well as the following day."
