Dumfries and Galloway rail passengers facing chaos due to strike action

Practice passengers face chaos subsequent week because of strike motion by rail staff.

Members of the Nationwide Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Employees (RMT) who work for Community Rail are planning to stroll out on three days - Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

It has led to ScotRail cancelling all providers working on the Nith Valley line, that means no trains can be working between Dumfries and Glasgow.

Avanti West Coast is warning passengers utilizing Lockerbie station to solely journey “the place completely vital”, with TransPennine Specific not working any trains north of the border on the strike days.

South Scotland Labour MSP, Colin Smyth, stated: “Completely nobody needs these strikes to go forward, not the unions, not the workers, not the general public however they are often prevented.

“The Tory Authorities wants to point out some management and guarantee there are significant talks between employers and unions to make a good and wise pay supply. They need to additionally tackle the cuts to security and upkeep workers that are additionally driving this dispute.

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth at Lockerbie train station.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth at Lockerbie practice station.

“That's the job of a authorities minister. As a substitute of getting a grip of this disaster, the Tories are smugly sitting by whereas the nation is dragged again to the Eighties.”

The RMT is in a dispute with Community Rail and 13 practice operators over pay, jobs and pensions.

The union’s basic secretary, Mick Lynch, claims staff “have been handled appallingly” and referred to as for a face-to-face assembly with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor Rishi Sunak to resolve the dispute.

Nevertheless, Mr Shapps has described the strikes as “an unbelievable act of self-harm” which might be “a bid to derail reforms which might be vital to the community’s future”.

Community Rail chief government, Andrew Haines, claimed the motion is “unnecessary” and “damaging”.

ScotRail just isn't one of many firms concerned within the dispute however as Community Rail is answerable for practice traces and infrastructure throughout the UK, they are saying the strike will trigger “important disruption to providers”.

In consequence, it can solely be working a restricted timetable on 5 routes – none in Dumfries and Galloway.

ScotRail’s service supply director, David Simpson, stated: “This strike motion by RMT members of Community Rail implies that we will be unable to function the overwhelming majority of our providers in the course of the interval of strike motion.

“Clients ought to anticipate important disruption to providers subsequent week, together with on the times between strike motion.”

TransPennine Specific is likely one of the practice operators concerned within the dispute.

It received’t be working any trains in Scotland, that means no providers to or from Lockerbie.

Avanti West Coast, which can be affected by the dispute, has scaled again its timetable between Lockerbie and Glasgow and isn't working any providers to Edinburgh.

The primary of 4 Glasgow-bound trains will go away Lockerbie at 12.25pm with the final one at 5.22pm.

And the final of three Lockerbie-bound trains will go away Glasgow at 12.19pm.

Avanti West Coast director, Phil Whittingham, stated: “We’re advising clients to solely journey the place vital on our route on strike days and as a substitute make their journeys on various days or declare a full refund.”

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post