Wednesday 3 March 2010
ScotRail said today that it will ensure rugby fans get to and from the Scotland v England
RBS 6 Nations game at Murrayfield on March 13.
The train operator also announced that it intends to run more than 95% of trains across Scotland on the day of the game.
Steve Montgomery, ScotRail’s managing director, said: “I am delighted we will run even more trains on March 13 to ensure that rugby fans enjoy their big day out.”
The company plans to run its usual rugby services between Glasgow and Edinburgh services for the 17.00 kick off - with extra carriages provided.
On the previous two strike dates by the RMT, ScotRail ran at least nine out of 10 trains – with the figure reaching 93% of all services on Monday March 1.
The special timetable for March 13 will again see 100% of services on many routes, especially across Central Scotland. The 100% services will also include Aberdeen and Inverness services to and from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Mr Montgomery added: “We have made every effort to give rugby fans and the travelling public as robust a service as possible. The contingency plans are such that we intend to run at least 95% of services.”
The special timetable is still being finalised and will be announced in the near future.
As previously, a number of rural services will be replaced by buses.
The RMT strike is 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.
The new line will create 130 new jobs – and the trains are the same as those which have operated in Scotland for 25 years.
ScotRail remains available for meaningful talks at any time.
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.
