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Rail disruption as staff walk out Rail disruption as staff walk out
(about 2 hours later)
Rail passengers are facing disruption as signal workers stage a 48-hour strike in Scotland. Thousands of commuters have been affected by a 48-hour strike staged by railway signal workers in Scotland.
Network Rail said its priority was to keep as many trains as possible running during the stoppage, which got under way at 1200 GMT. Several services were suspended from mid-morning on Wednesday and will not resume until peak times on Friday due to the dispute over working hours.
First ScotRail said several services were suspended from mid-morning on Wednesday until peak times on Friday in the strike over altering working hours. Services on some routes, including Glasgow to Edinburgh, were reduced, but Network Rail claimed its priority was to run as many trains as possible.
There are reduced services on other routes, including Glasgow to Edinburgh. First Minister Jack MacConnell voiced concerns about the strike.
Network Rail has drawn up contingency plans with train operator First ScotRail following the collapse of talks with the RMT union. His spokeman said: "The first minister expressed his disappointment at the effect this is going to have in terms of disruption to travellers and commuters and is hoping that those responsible will be able to get it sorted as quickly as possible."
How the strike has affected your regionHow the strike has affected your region
Its members voted last month to take strike action in a dispute over working hours. About 400 signalling and supervisory staff walked out at 1200 GMT in a row over working conditions, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of services.
The dispute centres on an alleged failure to honour a 35-hour week agreement and abuse of rostering agreements. The first rail strike in Scotland for nearly four years, it followed the collapse of talks between Network Rail (NR) and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "These issues have been resolved elsewhere but in Scotland there appears to be managers who want to make a name for themselves." The dispute centres on a failure to honour a 35-hour week agreement and the abuse of rostering agreements, according to the union.
The RMT, which has 480 members in Scotland, predicted that the strike would cause "massive disruption". RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Reports from RMT organisers and reps across Scotland tell us that our members' strike is absolutely rock-solid.
However, David Simpson, the Scottish route director at Network Rail, said the priority was to keep as many trains running as possible. "Network Rail should understand that our members are determined to achieve the 35-hour week we agreed to last July, and it is the company that holds a very simple solution in its hands.
"Network Rail now has the choice of engaging constructively with us to resolve this dispute or facing a ballot of our signalling members throughout Britain."
If the company are suggesting that we move from a 12 hour to an eight hour day that means you're working five days Phil McGarryRMT regional organiser Have you been affected? A challenge to get homeIf the company are suggesting that we move from a 12 hour to an eight hour day that means you're working five days Phil McGarryRMT regional organiser Have you been affected? A challenge to get home
"It will only be about 30% of normal service but there will be trains running and details of those are available from local stations or from National Rail Enquiries," he said. However, David Simpson, route director for Network Rail Scotland, labelled the action "regrettable" and "unnecessary" and insisted the company was willing to engage in discussions with RMT.
First ScotRail said it was "as prepared as can be" for the strike, but warned passengers there would be reduced frequency and capacity on certain routes. "We've offered to go to (arbitration service) ACAS to have this matter resolved, but RMT have refused that and passengers are suffering as a result," he said.
RMT regional organiser Phil McGarry told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that the proposed way of working did not give members the right work-life balance. The director insisted safety was not being put at risk during the skeleton rail services but the RMT claimed the limited trains that ran on Wednesday did so "with the help of inadequately trained managers" from England.
He said: "If the company are suggesting that we move from a 12 hour to an eight hour day that means you're working five days. First ScotRail said it was "as prepared as can be" for the strike, but warned passengers that reduced frequency and capacity on certain routes would continue.
"Our members work the 12 hours because it suits them - it means in effect that they have quality time free from work to enjoy with their loved ones and families." The service between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street is due to run every 30 minutes for the duration of the dispute.
The service between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street is due to run every 30 minutes during the dispute.
YOUR VIEWSHow the rail strike has hit some travellersIn picturesYOUR VIEWSHow the rail strike has hit some travellersIn pictures
The last train is scheduled to leave Glasgow at 1800 GMT, while the last departure from Edinburgh will be at 1745 GMT.The last train is scheduled to leave Glasgow at 1800 GMT, while the last departure from Edinburgh will be at 1745 GMT.
Reduced services are also operating between Edinburgh and Fife, Bathgate, North Berwick and Stirling.Reduced services are also operating between Edinburgh and Fife, Bathgate, North Berwick and Stirling.
A number of services from Glasgow will run on reduced timetables, while others have been cancelled until Friday afternoon.A number of services from Glasgow will run on reduced timetables, while others have been cancelled until Friday afternoon.
Services suspended include the routes to Whifflet, Paisley Canal, Dumfries and Carlisle, Wemyss Bay and the Cathcart circle.Services suspended include the routes to Whifflet, Paisley Canal, Dumfries and Carlisle, Wemyss Bay and the Cathcart circle.
No trains are running on the services between Aberdeen and Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness.No trains are running on the services between Aberdeen and Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness.
Services from Inverness to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Wick, Thurso and Kyle of Lochalsh have also been cancelled.Services from Inverness to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Wick, Thurso and Kyle of Lochalsh have also been cancelled.
Cancelled servicesCancelled services
The Caledonian Sleeper service between Scotland and London is not running on Wednesday or Thursday, but should operate on Friday.The Caledonian Sleeper service between Scotland and London is not running on Wednesday or Thursday, but should operate on Friday.
The other cancelled services include those between Perth and Glasgow and those from Edinburgh to West Calder, Newcraighall and Glasgow via Shotts.The other cancelled services include those between Perth and Glasgow and those from Edinburgh to West Calder, Newcraighall and Glasgow via Shotts.
The rail company apologised to passengers and urged people to check its website for the latest details of its services.The rail company apologised to passengers and urged people to check its website for the latest details of its services.
James King, who is on the board of the rail watchdog Passenger Focus, said travellers felt bewildered by the action.James King, who is on the board of the rail watchdog Passenger Focus, said travellers felt bewildered by the action.
He said: "Passengers are not really interested in the detail of it, they're just interested in their day-to-day journey to work, to the doctors, dentist, hospital, whatever it is."He said: "Passengers are not really interested in the detail of it, they're just interested in their day-to-day journey to work, to the doctors, dentist, hospital, whatever it is."
Stagecoach said it filled most of the 1,200 extra coach seats it provided on its Scottish Citylink and megabus for those affected by the strike.
More than 20 additional coaches were put on standby in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Perth.
HOW PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED ACROSS SCOTLANDHOW PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED ACROSS SCOTLAND
Bus use rises in the eastBus use rises in the east
Services hit in the westServices hit in the west
North east sees disruptionNorth east sees disruption
Inverness station 'deserted'Inverness station 'deserted'
Tayside travellers 'unaffected'Tayside travellers 'unaffected'