Scotland set for weekend rail disruption as Network Rail strikes resume

Rail passengers have been warned to expect travel disruption on Saturday as Network Rail workers continue to carry out strike action.

The RMT union announced that members would walk out on January 6 and 7 as part of an ongoing dispute over pay, job security and conditions.

While the strike does not involve ScotRail staff, the industrial action will have a knock-on effect for services as Network Rail staff occupy critical safety roles.

The rail provider said a limited service will run in the central belt, Fife and the Borders, with no trains running on any other line.

The strike timetable and frequency of trains will be as follows:

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.

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 strike days.

David Simpson, ScotRail’s service delivery director, said: “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.”

Customers are urged to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel if they really need to on the days of strike action.

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.”