Scotland’s summer of discontent continues this weekend as parts of the rail network grind to a halt in the latest wave of strike action across the country.
Workers from the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at Network Rail will begin the second day of industrial action on Saturday, significantly reducing the number of services operating on major routes.
An initial strike took place on Thursday, with ScotRail warning passengers not to travel unless absolutely necessary on either occasion.
Sunday is also set to be hit by disruption, with signal box activation affected due to the previous day’s industrial action.
ScotRail workers are not involved in the rail walkout, however signal operators will be among those taking action, meaning only a limited number of services are able to run.
It is the latest in a wave of strikes to hit the rail network this summer following previous action which ground routes to a halt.
Liam Sumpter, route director of Network Rail Scotland, said: “This week’s strikes will once again cause significant disruption and we’re doing everything we can to minimise the impact on passengers, businesses and the wider community.
“Please check your journey in advance as those services that are operating will finish much earlier in the evening.”
Previous industrial action saw fewer than 200 trains able to run, however that number will rise to 378 for Saturday’s strike as further routes open to Fife and the east coast.
But major transport hubs including Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central will close before 7pm, with final services leaving at around 6.30pm, Network Rail warned.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said his union’s members are more determined than ever to protect their pensions, secure a decent pay rise, job security and good working conditions.
“Network Rail have not made any improvement on their previous pay offer and the train operating companies have not offered us anything new,” he said.
“Tube bosses are having secret negotiations with the Government about cutting costs by slashing jobs and undermining working conditions and pensions.
“Network Rail is also threatening to impose compulsory redundancies and unsafe 50% cuts to maintenance work if we did not withdraw strike action.
“The train operating companies have put driver-only operations on the table along with ransacking our members’ terms and conditions.”
Revised ScotRail timetable for Saturday, August 20:
Two trains per hour between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street, Edinburgh and Helensburgh Central, Glasgow Central and Hamilton, Glasgow Central and Lanark, Edinburgh and Inverkeithing, Edinburgh and Tweedbank and Milngavie and Springburn.
One train per hour between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central, Edinburgh and North Berwick, Glasgow Queen Street and Larbert, and Glasgow Queen Street and Falkirk Grahamston.
No service on any unlisted routes.
The services will run between 7.30am and the final train will leave “well before” 6.30pm.
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