ScotRail's full timetable to return next week
It comes after months of scaled-back services due to a pay dispute
Scotrail has announced that its full timetable will return next week, after months of scaled-back services.
A pay dispute and shortage of drivers meant the rail operator had to introduce a 'temporary timetable' with a limited number of trains from July.
The drivers refused to work overtime or rest days, as is their contractual right, amid the pay dispute.
However, from Monday 7th June 2024, services will return to normal after drivers accepted the latest pay deal.
Around 26% of services were axed during the summer overall while up to half of trains were cancelled on Sundays during the pay dispute.
Unions involved in negotiations accepted the latest offer last week, understood to be a 4.5% pay rise for all staff backdated to April.
ScotRail said it would recruit 160 new drivers to reduce its reliance on overtime work.
Peak fares reintroduced
The announcement comes just after peak fares were reintroduced on ScotRail services this week.
The Scottish Government launched the pilot scheme to encourage drivers to switch to public transport.
But ministers said not enough people switched to justify its roughly £40 million cost.
It means that an anytime ticket between Glasgow and Edinburgh has surged to £31.40 from £16.20.
Scottish Labour claimed peak travel between October last year and July had increased by almost 40% compared to the same period the year before - though Transport Scotland said the figures were "misleading".
Passenger numbers increased by a maximum of 6.8% as a result of the pilot, the agency said, with a rise of at least 10% required for the scheme to break even.
'We thank everybody for their patience'
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: "We are delighted to confirm that our full timetable will return on Monday.
"We have been working round the clock to deliver this in a very short space of time because we know how important a full service is to our customers.
"It's been a difficult few months for our customers and staff, and we thank everybody for their patience.
"With a pay deal agreed and the full timetable back in place, everyone at ScotRail is focused on delivering a safe, reliable and green service for our customers."
'Live within means'
First Minister John Swinney previously defended the reintroduction of peak rail fares in Scotland.
"We've got to put in place a rail network that is financially sustainable," he said.
"We've given the peak fares pilot a lot more time than we originally planned, we promised to do it for six months, we actually did it for 12 months, to give it as much opportunity to demonstrate its value.
"Unfortunately, it did not deliver the sufficient shift in passenger number to justify the cost involved and the Government has got to live within its means."