Off the rails. There will be no trains in Fife on Saturday
THERE will be no ScotRail services running in Fife on Saturday due to strike action.
And anyone from this side of the Forth who’s planning to travel to Scotland’s rugby match against Australia at Murrayfield have been advised to consider alternatives.
It is a second day of industrial action by ScotRail general grades RMT members and is a result of the trade union’s rejection of a renewed pay offer.
More than 2,000 employees – including conductors, ticket examiners, hospitality, station staff (including train dispatch), engineering depot staff, train presentation, supervisors, resource coordinators and CCTV operators – will walk out.
Announcing the plans for a strike, RMT Scotland tweeted: “Now is the time to stand together and win a pay offer that addresses the rising cost of living.”
Trains will run between 7.30am and 6.30pm on just three routes on Saturday: Milngavie – Edinburgh Waverley via Glasgow Queen Street; Glasgow Central – Lanark; and Glasgow Central – Larkhall.
There will be no service on any other routes across the country, including the Fife Circle. Union members are also currently taking part in an overtime and rest day working ban as part of action which has seen some daily cancellations across the network. ScotRail are still dependent on rest day working and overtime while recruitment continues.
Network Rail RMT members have also announced that they will take part in 24-hour strike action on November 3, 5 and 7.
RMT general secretary
Mick Lynch said: “Our industrial action campaign on ScotRail will continue until we can find a just settlement to our dispute. We are open to meaningful talks with ScotRail at any time to discuss all the outstanding issues.”
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “We’re really disappointed that the dispute with the RMT remains ongoing, given the strength of the improved pay offer ScotRail made. Further strike action has a damaging effect on railway’s recovery at a time when we should be encouraging more people to travel. Instead, our customers are being severely impacted and our staff losing out through lost wages. Regrettably, we won’t be able to operate the vast majority of our services on Saturday, and customers should expect significant disruption to services due to the large proportion of ScotRail staff who are members of the RMT trade union.”