On Saturday, 29th October, there will be widespread disruption to train services in Scotland when ScotRail employees who are members of the RMT trade union take part in a day of industrial action.

The strike is because the RMT has rejected an improved pay offer made by ScotRail.

Taking part will be over 2,000 ScotRail employees working as conductors, ticket examiners, hospitality, station staff (including train dispatch), engineering depot staff, train presentation, supervisors, resource coordinators, and CCTV operators. However, not all ScotRail employees in these roles are trade union members.

Because of the number of contingency staff required to cover the shifts of those on strike, ScotRail will only be able to run a very limited service, and only between 07.30 and 18.30 on the following routes:

• Milngavie to Edinburgh Waverley via Glasgow Queen Street Low Level (half-hourly service).
• Glasgow Central to Lanark (hourly service).
• Glasgow Central to Larkhall (hourly service).

There will be no service on any route other than those listed above.

This means there will be a very limited service for rugby fans heading to Scotland’s first autumn international match against Australia.

Further 24-hour strikes are planned by Network Rail and the RMT for Thursday, 3rd, Saturday, 5th, and Monday, 7th November. Although that dispute does not involve ScotRail staff, the RMT planned action will involve Network Rail staff in Scotland and will have a major knock-on effect on the company’s ability to provide.

More information on how strike action will impact ScotRail services, including ScotRail’s refund policy, can be found on the ScotRail website at www.scotrail.co.uk/strike.

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, 29 October, and customers should expect significant disruption to services due to the large proportion of ScotRail staff who are members of the RMT trade union.

“We’re advising customers, including rugby fans intending to travelling to Scotland’s first autumn international at Murrayfield, to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel by train if they really need to.

“We remain open to resolving this dispute.”