Rail strike will leave ‘handful’ of trains
A NATIONAL rail strike will have a severe impact on travellers, with ScotRail warning they’ll run only a skeleton service if the action goes ahead.
They said they will put on just a “handful” of trains on Monday and Tuesday if the 24-hour walkout takes place as planned from 5pm on Monday.
Talks are taking place at conciliation service Acas, but ScotRail Alliance managing director Phil Verster said: “Many people are going to be seriously inconvenienced by this UK-wide industrial action.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has warned passengers to expect “widespread cancellations and disruptions”.
Swinney has chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s resilience committee, where contingency plans for the strike were discussed.
ScotRail said they will not be able to operate most of their services if the action takes place, and have published details of a reduced timetable on their website.
Up to 25,000 Network Rail members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association and Unite could take part in the strike.
If the walkout goes ahead, just six services in the Central Belt could run on Tuesday, with a further three routes in and out of Glasgow Central operating on Monday.