Skeleton rail service in place as another round of strikes begin

All but a handful of ScotRail services have been cancelled today as Network Rail staff across the UK go on strike.

A reduced service in running on five routes in the central belt, with trains to finish operating by 6:30pm.

Disruption from the strike action is expected to spill over into Thursday morning as signal boxes come back online.

The dispute over pay does not involve ScotRail staff but does involve RMT members of Network Rail in Scotland.

A second strike is planned for Saturday.

Scotland’s Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth yesterday wrote to her UK counterpart, Grant Shapps, urging the UK Government to instruct Network Rail to return to negotiations.

She accused the government of being “determined to escalate the situation” after recently backing a change to allow agency workers to cover staff absences during a strike.

Gilruth wrote: “I asked you previously for assurances that you would do everything in your role as Transport Secretary to avoid further industrial action and the disproportionate effect this will have on Scotland’s railway.

“Instead, the UK Government continues to appear to be distracted rather than focusing on resolving this dispute as quickly as possible for the benefit of rail users, staff and taxpayers.”