Scots trains cancelled in first of planned festive strikes

All Crosscountry trains in Scotland will be cancelled tomorrow in the first of a series of strikes that threaten Christmas services.

The operator said none of its trains would run north of York, affecting services to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Some 25 trains will not run, including to south west England.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has also called strikes for Sunday 26 November, Saturday 9-Sunday 10 December, Christmas Eve and Hogmanay.

Crosscountry said it would not know whether the other strikes would have the same impact.

The RMT said the dispute among train managers and senior conductors was over “abuse of rostering and Sunday working”.

General secretary Mick Cash said: “Our members are standing up for the principles of a decent work life balance and against the abuse of rostering and Sunday working by a management that is out of control.”

A spokesperson for Crosscountry said: “It is disappointing the RMT is calling for its members to strike when we have already held extensive talks and feel both sides recognise how this can be resolved without causing disruption to rail users.

“To call for six days of strikes before the New Year is extraordinary.”