At least nine out of 10 trains to run despite RMT strike
Friday 26 February 2010
ScotRail today announced it intends to run at least nine out of 10 trains when the RMT trade union strikes on Monday.
The special timetable aims to provide 100% of services on many routes - including Edinburgh-Glasgow Queen Street and all services in Strathclyde, except Motherwell-Cumbernauld.
It also aims to run Glasgow and Edinburgh services to Aberdeen and Inverness as normal.
Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail, said: "It is business as usual for Scotland’s railway. Our contingency plans are such that we will run at least nine out of 10 trains - as happened during the strike last Saturday.”
He added: "However, we have again had to revise some services because of the RMT’s bid to cause as much inconvenience as possible to our customers.
"Tough choices have had to be taken to ensure that as many people as possible are unaffected on the day."
A number of rural services will be replaced by buses. Where changes have been made, services will be replaced with buses. A small number of services have been cancelled.
ScotRail is extremely disappointed by the RMT strikes over having ticket examiners rather than conductors as the second person on services on the new £300m line between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Airdrie and Bathgate.
Mr Montgomery said: “The new line will create 130 new jobs – and the trains are the same as those which have operated in Scotland for 25 years.”
“The new line also underpins growth in the railways. It is about investing in the future and about bringing significant benefits to the communities it will serve.”
SERVICES RUNNING NORMALLY
• Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk High
• Strathclyde services, except Motherwell – Cumbernauld
• Edinburgh / Glasgow – Aberdeen / Inverness
• Aberdeen – Inverness
• Glasgow – Edinburgh via Shotts
• Glasgow – Maryhill / Anniesland
• Caledonian Sleepers
ROUTES WITH MINOR CHANGES
• Glasgow/Edinburgh – Alloa / Dunblane / Perth
• Edinburgh – Bathgate
• Fife Circle
• Edinburgh – Newcraighall
• Edinburgh – North Berwick
KEY SERVICE CHANGES
• Glasgow – Oban / Fort William / Mallaig – buses will replace trains
• Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh / Wick / Thurso - buses will replace trains
• Glasgow – Carlisle: buses will replace trains between Kilmarnock – Dumfries / Carlisle
• Stranraer / Girvan – Kilmarnock: buses will replace trains
• A reduced service will operate between Perth and Edinburgh
ScotRail urged customers to purchases tickets, including season tickets, in advance of travel to avoid delays at their destination on March 1.
Media inquiries
Iain Wilson: 0141 335 4565/iain.wilson@firstgroup.com
Notes to editors
• The new Glasgow to Edinburgh via Airdrie and Bathgate service will be subsidised by the Scottish Government which is reopening the rail link at a cost of more than £300 million.
• To operate with conductors rather than ticket examiners would entail unnecessary and inefficient Scottish taxpayers’ costs and worsen journey time and performance for passengers.
• It would cost £1.4m to convert the trains for conductors to open and close the doors. The modifications would delay the timing of the new route opening which is scheduled for December.
• Nothing changes with the introduction of the new services - where part of the line already has driver door operated trains with a ticket examiner on board. Indeed, the majority of ScotRail journeys are on such trains – almost 47 million journeys a year.
• The protection of the train is the driver’s responsibility on all ScotRail services regardless of the grade of the second person on board – a ticket examiner or a conductor. In so far as evacuation is concerned, all on board staff are trained in evacuation.
• Appropriate safeguards will be in place with regard to the new services.
