Train operator urges customers to check journey before travel over Christmas
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ScotRail customers are being reminded to plan their journey in advance over the Christmas period as services will be severely impacted by the latest round of strike action by RMT members of Network Rail.
The dispute does not involve ScotRail staff, however, it will have a major impact on the train operator’s ability to provide services as the RMT planned action involves Network Rail staff in Scotland.
The RMT union announced its members at Network Rail will take strike action from 6pm on Saturday, December 24 until 6am on Tuesday, December 27 across the Great Britain railway network resulting from a pay dispute with the track and infrastructure operator.
This will result in the following impact on ScotRail services:
Christmas Eve (Saturday, December 24) – services will run as normal until around 3pm when they will begin to wind down to allow for critical engineering works. No train services will start after 6pm (except for the 6.15pm Cumbernauld – Motherwell) but some trains will still be in transit.
Christmas Day (Sunday, December 25) – ScotRail does not operate services on Christmas Day.
Boxing Day (Monday, December 26) – no services will operate due to use of contingent Network Rail staff and the prioritisation of critical engineering works. ScotRail normally operates a reduced service across the Strathclyde region.
Tuesday, December 27 – a later start-up of services. Most services on that day will start around 8pm, but in some parts of the country, such as Stirling, there will be no trains running until 5pm. This is due to the shift start times of Network Rail signallers.
New Year’s Eve (Saturday, December 31) – services will stop earlier than normal for usual Hogmanay closedown.
Football supporters attending one of the matches on Christmas Eve are reminded that services will begin to wind down from 3pm, so they should make sure they have planned their journey home in advance.
Customers are advised to check the ScotRail app or visit scotrail.co.uk for the latest information before travelling. The train operator is currently updating its retail systems to reflect the impact of strike action.
ScotRail’s normal timetable is due to operate between Wednesday, December 28 and Friday, December 30.
The routes, frequency of service, and times of the last trains from Christmas Eve until Monday, January 2, 2023, is available at scotrail.co.uk/christmas.
The RMT has also announced plans for strike action on and January 3–4 and 6–7. ScotRail have advised that they are working through train plans for these dates, and will keep customers updated as soon as possible.
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “We’re reminding customers that ScotRail services will be disrupted by over the Christmas period as a result of the dispute between Network Rail and the RMT.
“Services will be stopping earlier than usual on Christmas Eve, there will be no services on Boxing Day, and the first trains will start later than normal on Tuesday, December 27.
“We know this is really frustrating for everyone impacted and we’re urging customers to plan ahead and check their entire journey in advance.”
