RMT Network Rail strikes underway as more action announced over Christmas
ScotRail services will be significantly disrupted this week during the latest round of strike action by RMT members of Network Rail.
A limited number of ScotRail services will operate on a reduced number of routes for five days, from Tuesday, 13 until Sunday, December 18.
ScotRail has confirmed it will operate a similar service level as the previous strike action on previous Network Rail strike dates.
Customers who have already purchased a rail tickets can seek a free refund, or claim compensation through Delay Repay, for up to 28 days after they were due to travel. Alternatively, customers can use their ticket to travel the day before, up to and including Tuesday, December 20.
For the routes on which will operate a service, customers should only travel if they really need to and should consider alternative options where possible.
Customers are advised to check the ScotRail app or visit scotrail.co.uk for the latest information before travelling.
This limited strike timetable will also operate on the non–strike day, Thursday, December 15. This is because Network Rail is unable to make all infrastructure available on that day. This means the train operator will run services on 12 routes across the central belt, Fife, and the Borders between the hours of 07.30 and 18.30.
The routes and frequency of service which will be in operation this week are:
- Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Helensburgh Central: two trains per hour
- Glasgow Central – Hamilton/Larkhall: two trains per hour
- Glasgow Central – Lanark: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Central via Shotts: one train per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Cowdenbeath: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Tweedbank: two trains per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – North Berwick: one train per hour
- Edinburgh Waverley – Larbert: one train per hour
- Glasgow Queen Street – Larbert: one train per hour
- Glasgow Queen Street – Falkirk Grahamston: one train per hour
- Milngavie – Springburn: two trains per hour
The RMT has also announced plans for strike action between December 24–27, and and January 3–4 and 6–7.
The pay dispute does not involve ScotRail staff, but it will have a major impact on the train operator’s ability to provide services as the RMT planned action involves 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, so it won't be possible for ScotRail to run the vast majority of services.
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director said:“It’s disappointing to see that planned strike action will go ahead. This means more widespread disruption across the whole Great Britain rail network at a time when we need to be encouraging more people back to the railway.
“For ScotRail, it’s going to mean that we won’t be able to operate the vast majority of our services from Tuesday, December 13, through to, and including, Saturday December 17.
“We know this will be really frustrating for our customers, but we’re advising those planning to travel to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel if they really need to on the days of strike action. Customers should check their journey in advance to make sure your train is running.”
