Extra ScotRail services to run on 11 routes after two days of RMT Network Rail strikes

Extra ScotRail services are to run on Thursday to ease disruption caused by the latest round of strike action.

Network Rail workers who are members of the RMT union walked out this week in a long running dispute over pay and work conditions.

While the pay dispute itself does not involve ScotRail staff, industrial action has had a major impact on the operator’s ability to run services.

While Thursday is a non-strike day, disruption was expected and ScotRail had initially advised that the same limited timetable would be in operation and that it hoped that some additional routes could be added.

On Wednesday it announced that it will now operate some services on the following routes, in addition to the 12 routes across the central belt, Fife, and the Borders already confirmed:

Inverness – Perth.
Inverness – Aberdeen.
Inverness – Wick & Kyle.
Aberdeen – Edinburgh.
Perth – Edinburgh.
Glasgow Queen Street – Fort William / Mallaig / Oban.
Ayr – Stranraer.
Carlisle – Dumfries.
Ayr – Glasgow Central.
Gourock – Glasgow Central.
Neilston – Glasgow Central.

The times of last trains on these routes will vary but they will generally run until the normal end of service.

Customers are advised to check their entire journey on the operator’s website, mobile app, or social media channels before they travel.

On the two remaining strike days on Friday, January 6, and Saturday, January 7, ScotRail will return to its strike timetable and run services on 12 routes across the central belt, Fife, and the Borders between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “We have worked really hard to add more services to the timetable for Thursday. We’re pleased that customers will have more travel options throughout the day.

“However, we are still advising customers to check their journeys before they travel and we’re reminding them that we will have to revert to our strike timetable on Friday and Saturday, which we know will be really frustrating for them.

“The widespread disruption across the whole Great Britain rail network as a result of the dispute between Network Rail and the RMT is really disappointing coming at a time when we need to be encouraging more people back to the railway.”

Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, said: “The government is blocking the union’s attempts to reach a negotiated settlement with the rail employers.

“We have worked with the rail industry to reach successful negotiated settlements ever since privatisation in 1993. And we have achieved deals across the network in 2021 and 2022 where the Department for Transport has no involvement.

“Yet in this dispute, there is an unprecedented level of ministerial interference, which is hamstringing rail employers from being able to negotiate a package of measures with us, so we can settle this dispute.

“We will continue our industrial action campaign while we work towards a negotiated resolution.”