From (Wednesday, 10 July), ScotRail will introduce a temporary timetable to provide greater certainty and reliability for customers.
This is a result of the ongoing impact of fewer train drivers than normal being available for overtime or rest day working, as is their contractual right, following confirmation from drivers’ union ASLEF that it will recommend to its Executive Committee a ballot for industrial action over pay.
Over the past number of weeks, we have been in pay discussions with the rail trade unions, ASLEF, RMT, TSSA, and Unite. A formal pay offer in line with the Scottish Government’s public sector pay policy was made on Friday, 5 July, however, this was rejected by all four trade unions.
While ScotRail is currently recruiting 160 new drivers – the highest level ever – each year, some overtime is still needed to deliver a normal timetable. This has historically been the case in the railway and is replicated in other train operators across Britain.
Reducing the timetable temporarily will mean ScotRail is less reliant on drivers working rest days or overtime, providing a more reliable service for customers instead of late-notice cancellations.
Under the temporary timetable, we will operate around 1,660 services each day Monday to Saturday, which is nearly 200 more services than the one introduced in 2022 when there was similar disruption.
While the times of first or last trains on more than half of routes will remain unchanged, there will be changes in the number of services provided during the morning and evening peak times – for example, where there are normally four trains per hour in the peak, this will reduce to a half hourly service which is the same as the off-peak.
We are operating services which the vast majority of customers use and are still using all the available trains in our fleet so customers can continue to travel. The temporary timetable provides more than 515,000 seats each day – around twice the number of passenger journeys being made.
The temporary timetable can be viewed here – www.scotrail.co.uk/temporary-timetable-0
We are working on plans to support upcoming major events, including The Open at Royal Troon, and will update customers in the coming days.
Customers are strongly advised to check their journey before travelling by using the ScotRail website or app. These systems are due to be updated by around 22.00 this evening. Timetables for weekend travel are due to be in systems on Thursday evening.
Refunds are available to customers for booked journeys which are affected by the temporary timetable with no additional admin fee. Alternatively, customers can use their tickets to travel on an alternative service, or the day before or two days after their planned journey.
I want to reassure you that we remain fully committed to further talks to reach agreement on a pay offer that delivers value for the taxpayer and a fair pay increase for ScotRail employees.
We are very sorry to customers for the disruption to services. We know that customers want certainty and reliability which is why we are introducing a temporary timetable.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact Olivia Carson, ScotRail External Relations Manager, on olivia.carson@scotrail.co.uk if you have any questions.
Best wishes,
Mark
Mark Ilderton
Service Delivery Director