ScotRail reminds customers to only travel if necessary during RMT Network Rail strike action

Last updated: Sunday, 19 June 2022

ScotRail is reminding customers to expect several days of significant disruption this week due to strike action by RMT members of Network Rail.

Network Rail strike action will take place on 21, 23, and 25 June. This means a very limited number of services will operate on just five ScotRail routes in the Central Belt, with no service on all other routes.

On the days of strike action, ScotRail will only operate services on five routes across Scotland between the hours 07.30 and 18.30. These routes are:

  • Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk High: two trains per hour
  • Edinburgh – Bathgate: two trains per hour
  • Glasgow – Hamilton/Larkhall: two trains per hour
  • Glasgow – Lanark: two trains per hour
  • Edinburgh – Glasgow via Shotts: one train per hour

Network Rail will not be unable to open any other signal boxes to operate passenger services on any other routes on the strike days.

Final services on the five operational routes will depart well before 18.30, so customers should plan ahead to ensure they know when their last train will run. Train times on the five available routes can be view on the ScotRail website at Network Rail Industrial Action | ScotRail .

The important messages for customers are:

  1. Services will only operate on five routes.
  2. For the routes on which we will operate a service, customers should only travel if they really need to and should consider alternative options where possible.

On the days following strike action - 22, 24, and 26 June - there will be disruption across Scotland’s Railway caused by the reopening of signal boxes at different times across the day.

Signal boxes are key pieces of infrastructure located across the rail network that control train movements, their use is critical to ensure that the railway can operate safely.

While large signalling centres in the Central Belt will be able to operate from 07.15, this will not be the case at signal boxes elsewhere and it may well be later in the day before many routes are able to operate as normal. This is particularly the case for routes beyond the Central Belt.

The disruption caused by strike action will impact customers travelling to events such as The Eagles at Murrayfield on Wednesday, 22 June, Colourbox Festival at Bellahouston Park on Saturday, 25 June, and Liam Gallacher at Hampden Park on Sunday, 26 June.

ScotRail will be issuing specific travel advice for each event in the coming days, and customers are advised to check the ScotRail app or visit scotrail.co.uk for the latest information before travelling.

The three days of strike action were announced by the RMT union on Tuesday, 7 June following a pay dispute with Network Rail and some Department for Transport train operating companies, and will impact services across the Great Britain railway network.

This dispute does not involve ScotRail staff, however, does have a major knock-on effect on the train operator’s ability to provide services as the planned action involves Network Rail staff in Scotland who are members of RMT.

Many of the Network Rail staff that are due to take part in the planned industrial action occupy safety-critical roles and, as such, it will not be possible for ScotRail to run the vast majority of services.

For more information, please visit the National Rail website at National Rail Enquiries - Industrial Action .

David Simpson, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said:

“It is very unfortunate to see such widespread disruption across the whole of the Great Britain rail network and we know this will be frustrating for ScotRail customers.

“Regrettably, this strike action by RMT members of Network Rail means that we will not be able to operate the vast majority of our services during the period of strike action.

“We’re reminding customers to expect significant disruption to services this week, including on the days between, and following, strike action which will impact customers travelling to events across the country.

“On the five routes where we are able to operate a very limited service on strike days, we’re urging customers to only travel if they really need to, and to seek alternative means of transport where possible.”