Passengers face further rail misery as strike action to continue in Scotland over the weekend

Rail users are set to face further misery this week as strike action on Scotland’s railways is set to continue.

Train services on major routes will be limited over the weekend and into next week as RMT union staff from Network Rail prepare to walk out on Saturday November 5, Monday, November 7, and Wednesday, November 9.

Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central stations are set to close early at 7pm as routes in the central belt will operate at similar levels to previous major strikes in September, with just 11 services running between 7:30am and 6:30pm.

Passengers have been warned that disruption is also to be expected the day after each strike due to the reopening of signal boxes at different times across the country.

Several major routes are affected including the route between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High, and Edinburgh to Helensburgh, which will only run two trains per hour.

Network Rail have urged anyone planning to travel between Saturday and Thursday to check their journeys in advance, including Scotland rugby fans planning to travel to Edinburgh for the Fiji match on November 5.

Liam Sumpter, route director for Network Rail Scotland, said: “We will continue to do all that we can to get people where they need to be during these strikes.

“Once again passengers, businesses and the wider community in Scotland will face significant disruption but I’m pleased that service levels will remain similar to those on previous strike days.

“Please check your journey in advance as those services that are operating will finish much earlier in the evening.”

ScotRail routes operating on strikes days:

Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High: two trains per hour
Edinburgh Waverley – Helensburgh Central: two trains per hour (on 5 November this will operate Edinburgh Waverley – Dalmuir only due to pre-planned engineering works)
Glasgow Central – Hamilton/Larkhall: two trains per hour
Glasgow Central – Lanark: two trains per hour
Edinburgh Waverley – Glasgow Central via Shotts: one train per hour
Edinburgh Waverley – Cowdenbeath: two trains per hour
Edinburgh Waverley – Tweedbank: two trains per hour
Edinburgh Waverley – Larbert: one train per hour
Glasgow Queen Street – Larbert: one train per hour
Glasgow Queen Street – Falkirk Grahamston: one train per hour
Milngavie – Springburn: two trains per hour

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our focus in this dispute is the rail employers who have yet to make an offer that will create the conditions for a negotiated settlement.

“I call upon the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to unshackle the rail industry so they can come to a settlement with RMT.

“We will vigorously pursue our industrial campaign until we achieve a deal.”