ScotRail disruption: trains cancelled due to staff shortages

A number of ScotRail services have been cancelled following a weekend of disruption.

Around 80 services have been cancelled due to a shortage of train staff. Passengers are advised to check before travelling.

ScotRail said the disruption was due to fewer train drivers than normal working overtime or rest days as part of an ongoing pay dispute with Aslef.

Services between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh, Dalmuir and Motherwell, Dundee and Arbroath and Airdrie and Balloch are among those affected on Monday.

Kevin Lindsay, ASLEF Scotland organiser, said: “The Scottish Government should have anticipated these problems. It is clear that no lessons have been learned from the past. Scotland’s rail workers are left understaffed and overworked.”

“The goodwill of Scottish train drivers can only take you so far, but you can’t run a safe and efficient railway seven days a week if you don’t employ the right numbers of staff and provide them with decent pay and conditions.

“The Scottish Government is the sole shareholder in ScotRail and yet has failed utterly to address the driver shortage.

“This is a crisis entirely of their making and ultimately it is the passengers who will suffer.”

Transport Scotland said it “recognised” the rail unions’ desire to negotiate a fair deal for their members.

Added: “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.”

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail’s Director of Service Delivery, commented: “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 are keen to resolve the wage dispute with the unions and remain fully engaged in further discussions.”