Scottish Boxing Day trains cancelled over strike action as RMT continue walkout

Rail services in Scotland will not resume until December 27 amid ongoing strike action by Network Rail workers in a dispute over pay.

ScotRail usually operates a limited service in the central belt on Boxing Day, but members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are staging a walkout across key dates around Christmas.

It means no trains will run anywhere in the country until Tuesday when some services will return later than planned.

Union members rejected the latest pay deal offer from Network Rail, which is owned by the UK Government, describing it as “unacceptable”.

🚨 Christmas Train times 🚨

24 Dec – Services started to wind down at 1500, none starting after 1800
25 & 26 Dec – No service
27 Dec – Services start later due to strike action by RMT Network Rail members
28–30 Dec – Normal service
31 Dec – Services finishing early for the bells
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) December 24, 2022

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The union remains available for talks to resolve this dispute.

“But until the Government gives the rail industry a mandate to come to a negotiated settlement on job security, pay and conditions of work, our industrial campaign will continue into the new year, if necessary.”

ScotRail said that no services would start until after 07.15 on Tuesday, but some could be halted until after 5pm to allow for signal boxes to be safely reopened.

A full timetable is expected to be up and running on December 28 but strike action is currently slated to continue for four days in the new year, starting on January 3.

Liam Sumpter, route director for Network Rail Scotland, said: “We understand the frustration and inconvenience this latest round of strike action will cause for our customers.

“We remain committed to working with the RMT to find a solution to this dispute, but we also need to agree a deal that is fair on the taxpayers who fund our railway.”

ScotRail said it did not expect any further disruption to services on Wednesday but urged passengers to check their journeys in advance.

David Simpson, ScotRail Service delivery director, said: “We’re reminding customers that ScotRail services will be disrupted over the Christmas period as a result of the dispute between Network Rail and the RMT.

“We know this is really frustrating for everyone impacted and we’re urging customers to plan ahead and check their entire journey in advance.”