Rail disruption as dozens of services cancelled due to lack of train drivers amid pay dispute

• Around 80 services are affected as drivers have chosen not to work extra shifts
• The rail workers’ union said it was considering a vote among its members as the pay dispute drags on

Train passengers have faced widespread disruption as dozens of ScotRail services have been cancelled due to a driver shortage.

About 80 services did not operate because drivers chose not to work overtime due to a pay dispute.

The disruption to travel on some routes, including from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, follows the cancellation of around a quarter of ScotRail trains on Sunday.

Train drivers’ union Aslef told executives at the state-run rail operator on Friday it would recommend a vote by its members on possible industrial action.

She blamed the Scottish government, which she said should have foreseen the driver shortage “a mile away”.

Yesterday the Scottish Conservatives said the problems were due to “failures of the SNP”.

Shadow Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport Douglas Lumsden MSP said: “The domino effects of this pay dispute are the last thing passengers across Scotland need.

“They are already continuing to suffer frequent cancellations and delays due to the SNP’s failures since the nationalisation of rail services two years ago.

“SNP ministers must get this situation under control and quickly, because rail users will not continue to tolerate continued cancellations and reduced services.

“A failure to resolve this dispute urgently will make a mockery of their claims to encourage more people to use public transport and will damage Scotland’s struggling economy.”

ScotRail made an offer to Aslef on Friday, in line with government guidelines on public sector pay, in an attempt to break the deadlock with drivers.

A previous offer that would have given drivers a six percent pay rise over three years and better maternity and paternity pay was rejected last month.

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Most of ScotRail’s 1,200 drivers are members of Aslef and many have chosen not to work longer hours on Sundays or do overtime.

Train operators have traditionally relied on drivers working overtime to cover Sunday services, and shortages have led to 243 cancellations.

Some Sunday services were held only every hour.

There are also concerns that if extra shifts have to be worked during the week due to staff absences or illness, it may be difficult to staff them.

Kevin Lindsay, Aslef Scotland organiser, told the BBC: “The Scottish Government is the sole shareholder in ScotRail but has completely failed to address the driver shortage.

“It’s a crisis entirely of their making.”

ScotRail apologised for the cancellations and said it was working to find a resolution to the dispute.

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail’s Director of Service Delivery, said: “We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused our customers. We know how frustrating it is to have to cancel a service.”

“Customers should check their itinerary on our website and mobile app before travelling and should also bear in mind that services will be busier than usual.

“We want to resolve the wage dispute with the unions and we remain fully engaged in further discussions.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We recognise the rail unions’ desire to negotiate a fair deal for their members.

“ScotRail, as a public body and employer, has the responsibility and ability to negotiate within the limits of public sector pay measures. However, as the rail unions have been advised, any offer beyond these limits requires approval by the Scottish Government at senior level, following the appropriate process.

“We encourage the rail unions to continue a constructive dialogue with ScotRail, so that a mutually acceptable outcome can be reached as soon as possible.”

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