Travel warning as ScotRail train strikes continue
It's part of a long-running pay dispute with the RMT union.
Last updated 10th Oct 2022
ScotRail has warned passengers of further widespread travel disruption across its network as railway strikes continue.
Members of the RMT will take part in 24-hour industrial action on Monday over an ongoing pay dispute with the nationalised train operator.
It means "a very limited number" of ScotRail services will operate on "a very limited number of routes".
Passengers have been warned to "only travel if they really need to" and to consider alternative options where possible.
Trains will only run between 7.30am and 6.30pm between Milngavie and Edinburgh via Bathgate (two an hour) and one train an hour between Glasgow and both Lanark and Larkhall.
Fresh pay offer rejected
A large proportion of ScotRail's employees are members of the RMT, including in conductors, ticket examiners, hospitality, station staff, engineering depot staff, train presentation, supervisors, resource co-ordinators, and CCTV operators.
Last Thursday the union rejected ScotRail's latest pay offer of 5%, which the train operator had tabled in a bid to avert strike action.
Mick Hogg, RMT Scottish organiser, described the latest pay deal as "a kick in the teeth" offer, saying it goes "nowhere near the cost-of-living crisis and constitutes a pay cut".
He said the union remains available for talks to continue.
Scottish Governement "disappointed"
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We absolutely respect the democratic right of union members to take industrial action, be that in Scotland or elsewhere, and we know there have been constructive discussions between ScotRail and the Scottish representatives of RMT members - unlike negotiations elsewhere in the UK at present.
"So it is really disappointing that Scottish members are being denied the opportunity to vote on a new Scottish deal.
Scotrail facts & figures
ScotRail Far North Line in winter
ScotRail operates 3,120.5 kilometres (1,939 miles) of route, from a dense surburban network around Glasgow to some of the most remote stretches of line in the UK including the Far North Line from Inverness to Wick & Thurso
Glasgow Queen Street
Glasgow Queen Street station is the 3rd busiest in Scotland and underwent a £120m rebuilding project between 2017-2021 including a dramatic new glass-fronted entrance from George Square.
ScotRail passengers
46.7m passengers used Scotrail services in 2020-21 according to the Office of Rail Regulation. That's down from a pre-pandemic high of 97.8m in 2018-19.
ScotRail nationalised
Scotrail has been run by public sector body, owned by the Scottish Government, since April 2022. First Minister unveiled a plaque on one of the class 385 electric units which operate the Glasgow - Edinburgh service. Between 2017-22 Scotrail was operated by the Dutch firm Abellio, and before than the privatised franchise was in the hands of First Group and National Express.
ScotRail HST
Scotrail's flagship Inter7City long-distance services are operated by a fleet of refurbished High Speed Trains. These are the oldest rolling stock on the Scottish network having been first introduced in 1976. They are popular with passengers for their spacious and quiet carriages, but questions were raised about their safety and future following the official report into the fatal crash Carmont near Stonehaven in August 2020.
Glasgow Central
Glasgow Central is Scotland's busiest station, by some margin, with an 5,325,090 people counted coming in and out in 2020-21 according to the Office of Rail Regulation. That's more than 2 million more than Edinburgh Waverley station.