New timetable promises more trains and seats

Major improvements to Scotland’s railways, including additional services, more seats on key routes and a new station, will be introduced this week as part of a UK-wide timetable change.

ScotRail is promising more services in north-east Scotland and extra seats on its trains running between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

A new station, Robroyston, will open in north-east Glasgow on the line between Queen Street and Cumbernauld.

Across the UK the new timetable, introduced today, will see 1,000 extra weekly services.

Train timetables are changed twice a year, in May and December.

The launch of the May 2018 timetables saw services crippled in parts of England, with blame attributed to Network Rail, train operators and the Government.

Robert Nisbet, of industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), urged passengers to check their journey details in advance.

He said: “Train operators and Network Rail will be working together to run a reliable service and respond quickly to any teething problems as people get used to the change.”

Meanwhile a union is claiming victory over Scotrail in a longrunning dispute about the role of managers on trains.

The row came after the operator tried to force driver team managers (DTMs) to cover up to three drivers’ shifts a week in addition to their normal job, without consultation from TSSA.

Work to rule industrial action has been ongoing since August.

Manuel Cortes, TSSA general secretary, said, “I’m glad that ScotRail has finally come to its senses and made us an offer that is acceptable for our members.”

A spokesman for the operator said: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with TSSA. This agreement allows us to continue to deliver the biggest driver training programme ever seen in Scotland.”