ScotRail reintroduces full timetable

ScotRail HST and 385 at Queen Street (ScotRail)

Following the resolution of their long-running dispute with the train drivers union, the publicly owned ScotRail plans to reintroduce a full timetable from today. However, the hot weather may scupper those ambitions to run a full service on Wednesday, and in the long-term the operator is still severely compromised by a shortage of trained drivers.

ScotRail has announced that it will reintroduce its timetable back to May 2022 levels from today (Wednesday, 20 July), after members of the drivers’ union ASLEF voted to accept the improved pay offer. The Company says it will bring to an end to the much-criticised temporary timetable that has been in place since 23 May. They say that will mean almost 700 services per day will be added back into services, including ‘lifeline’ services in the west and north of Scotland, including popular tourist destinations such as Oban, Fort William and Mallaig – on the ‘Harry Potter’ line through the West Highlands.

Scottish government take charge

It is expected that the busy multiple routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow will benefit from an immediate improvement, bringing the flagship service via Falkirk back up to quarter-hourly. Prior to the dispute, the fifty-mile (80km) link across Scotland’s Central Belt, connecting the two biggest cities in the country, was held up as an exemplar of inter-urban transport. At its full strength, up to fourteen trains an hour connected the capital with the most populous city, over five alternative routes provided by three operators.

Scotland’s rail network reflects the distortion of population. There are long term plans for electrification – but first the government in Edinburgh needs to get the trains running again. graphic by Transport Scotland

According to the company, the temporary timetable had been introduced due to the impact of a significant number of drivers declining to make themselves available for overtime or rest day working, as they are entitled to do, during the pay dispute. While in the private sector, the company had been criticised for failing to recruit enough drivers. Dutch company Abellio had held the ScotRail franchise until the Scottish government exercised a break clause in their contract and took over in March. Abellio were hampered in their recruitment and training programme by the onset of the pandemic in 2020. However, a series of shortcomings on franchise targets persuaded the Scottish government to step in.

Restored in the nick of time

Hopes that ScotRail’s problems are behind them may be premature. “Work is now in progress to ensure that the timetable can be fully restored, with train planning staff working flat out to carry out the changes required for the near 700 services to be reintroduced”, says ScotRail’s statement. However, with the heatwave hitting the country expected to peak today, there is the very real possibility of weather-related disruption. Company sources have expressed concerns about train positioning, particularly to operate the intensive Glasgow metro services and the Central Belt services.

Edinburgh Waverley becomes almost the busiest in the UK during the city’s famous Festival (Image Geograph UK and Martin Dawes

The attempted resumption of a full service has not come a moment too soon. Events that rely heavily on public transport are scheduled throughout the country over the summer. The most prominent of all is the Edinburgh Festival, the month-long celebration of the arts that attracts more than half a million visitors to the capital every day. Due to pressure on hotel beds, visitors are often required to find accommodation outside Edinburgh, temporarily transforming Edinburgh Waverley station into almost the busiest on the network. The stage is set for the railways to be the biggest performer and play more than a fringe part this year.

Services will however be disrupted again by the series of national strikes, commencing on 27 July.

Author: Simon Walton

Simon Walton is UK correspondent for RailTech.com and Railfreight.com

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ScotRail reintroduces full timetable | RailTech.com

ScotRail reintroduces full timetable

ScotRail HST and 385 at Queen Street (ScotRail)

Following the resolution of their long-running dispute with the train drivers union, the publicly owned ScotRail plans to reintroduce a full timetable from today. However, the hot weather may scupper those ambitions to run a full service on Wednesday, and in the long-term the operator is still severely compromised by a shortage of trained drivers.

ScotRail has announced that it will reintroduce its timetable back to May 2022 levels from today (Wednesday, 20 July), after members of the drivers’ union ASLEF voted to accept the improved pay offer. The Company says it will bring to an end to the much-criticised temporary timetable that has been in place since 23 May. They say that will mean almost 700 services per day will be added back into services, including ‘lifeline’ services in the west and north of Scotland, including popular tourist destinations such as Oban, Fort William and Mallaig – on the ‘Harry Potter’ line through the West Highlands.

Scottish government take charge

It is expected that the busy multiple routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow will benefit from an immediate improvement, bringing the flagship service via Falkirk back up to quarter-hourly. Prior to the dispute, the fifty-mile (80km) link across Scotland’s Central Belt, connecting the two biggest cities in the country, was held up as an exemplar of inter-urban transport. At its full strength, up to fourteen trains an hour connected the capital with the most populous city, over five alternative routes provided by three operators.

Scotland’s rail network reflects the distortion of population. There are long term plans for electrification – but first the government in Edinburgh needs to get the trains running again. graphic by Transport Scotland

According to the company, the temporary timetable had been introduced due to the impact of a significant number of drivers declining to make themselves available for overtime or rest day working, as they are entitled to do, during the pay dispute. While in the private sector, the company had been criticised for failing to recruit enough drivers. Dutch company Abellio had held the ScotRail franchise until the Scottish government exercised a break clause in their contract and took over in March. Abellio were hampered in their recruitment and training programme by the onset of the pandemic in 2020. However, a series of shortcomings on franchise targets persuaded the Scottish government to step in.

Restored in the nick of time

Hopes that ScotRail’s problems are behind them may be premature. “Work is now in progress to ensure that the timetable can be fully restored, with train planning staff working flat out to carry out the changes required for the near 700 services to be reintroduced”, says ScotRail’s statement. However, with the heatwave hitting the country expected to peak today, there is the very real possibility of weather-related disruption. Company sources have expressed concerns about train positioning, particularly to operate the intensive Glasgow metro services and the Central Belt services.

Edinburgh Waverley becomes almost the busiest in the UK during the city’s famous Festival (Image Geograph UK and Martin Dawes

The attempted resumption of a full service has not come a moment too soon. Events that rely heavily on public transport are scheduled throughout the country over the summer. The most prominent of all is the Edinburgh Festival, the month-long celebration of the arts that attracts more than half a million visitors to the capital every day. Due to pressure on hotel beds, visitors are often required to find accommodation outside Edinburgh, temporarily transforming Edinburgh Waverley station into almost the busiest on the network. The stage is set for the railways to be the biggest performer and play more than a fringe part this year.

Services will however be disrupted again by the series of national strikes, commencing on 27 July.

Author: Simon Walton

Simon Walton is UK correspondent for RailTech.com and Railfreight.com

Add your comment

characters remaining.

Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.