Scotrail warns of another day of rail disruption for North-east

07/11/2022
Rail travellers in Aberdeen are facing more disruption today

RAIL travellers in Scotland are facing yet more disruption today, despite strikes being called off.

ScotRail said a “very limited” timetable would be in operation ahead of a full service resuming on Tuesday.

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However, the north-east will not be totally cut off today – there will be trains running between Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Last Friday, the RMT halted industrial action planned at Network Rail on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday.

The union has said it will enter “a period of intensive negotiations” with Network Rail and rail companies after it received “the promise of an offer”.

The strikes had been called in a dispute over pay and conditions.

ScotRail said the decision came too late to prevent severe disruption to its services on Saturday.

The firm also said it had been advised by Network Rail that it would not be able to operate all its routes until Tuesday.

It said it had been working “round the clock” to restore the full timetable since the strike was suspended.

A spokesperson told the BBC it was a “complex process which involves rewriting train timetables and rosters for thousands of our staff, and getting trains to where they need to be”.

ScotRail said it was working to add more services and routes to today’s timetable and urged customers to check ahead before travelling.

David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said:  ”ScotRail welcomes the announcement that planned strike action by RMT members at Network Rail has been suspended. 

“Strike action does nothing for the railway’s recovery or reputation at this fragile time. It impacts customers, staff, and the economy. ”

Liam Sumpter, Network Rail Scotland route director, said: “We are working hard alongside ScotRail and our other operators to reintroduce services as quickly as possible for customers.

“We remain committed to working positively with our trades unions to find a resolution to this dispute.”

Meanwhile talks over a separate industrial dispute involving more than 2,000 ScotRail workers are due to resume today.

The RMT threatened to escalate this dispute by walking out on the day of Scotland’s rugby international against Argentina on November 19 and on every Friday and Saturday after that until Christmas.

ScotRail has previously offered all staff a 5% pay uplift plus add-ons, which it said would represent a 7.4% increase for the lowest-paid staff.

It has urged the union to put that offer to its members, although the RMT has said it would “seriously consider” an 8.2% increase.

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