More rail chaos on the way

Lanarkshire locals are facing chaos on the trains again after ScotRail unveiled a new reduced timetable.

The changes came into effect from Monday (May 23) and rail bosses say they are necessary due to an ongoing dispute with drivers.

However locals planning nights out are set to face major hassle as a result, with the last train from Glasgow Central back to the likes of Rutherglen, Cambuslang and Hamilton now leaving at 9.45pm when previously it was 11.17pm.

The last train leaving Hamilton in the opposite direction will now be at 9.25pm , having previously been after 11pm.

The earliest train leaving Hamilton for workers who start early was previously at 5.55am, but under the new plans the first train will now run at 6.25am, although there will still be four trains an hour after 7am.

Services to Edinburgh which run through Airdrie, are also being scaled back, with the last departure from Airdrie heading into the city centre now being at 9.49pm instead of 11.39pm.

Gig-goers attending shows at the OVO Hydro will also need to make new travel plans, as the last service from the nearby Exhibition Centre station will depart before 10pm, long before most shows have finished at the venue.

ScotRail, which fell back under Scottish Government control earlier this year, say they have made the changes to avoid the constant number of cancellations that have been occurring on their services recently and provide a more reliable service.

This is due to a dispute with the ASLEF trade union regarding staff not working overtime or rest days.

David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, claimed:“We are very sorry to customers for the disruption of recent days. We know what customers want more than anything is certainty and reliability, which is why we are introducing a temporary timetable.

“We want to resolve this dispute with the trade unions and move forward together to provide the safest, greenest, and most reliable railway we can for Scotland. We remain open to further talks with the trade unions.

“We’re asking customers to check their journey on our website, mobile app, and through our social media channels as train times will have changed.”