Scotland v Australia: Rugby fans urged to make alternative travel arrangements after ScotRail confirm strike date

Fans travelling to Scotland’s match at BT Murrayfield against Australia have been advised to consider alternative arrangements after ScotRail confirmed its network will face widespread disruption as a result of strikes.

ScotRail has confirmed members of the RMT trade union are taking part in a day of strike action next Saturday, October 29. It is the second day of strike action by members following industrial action on October 10 as part of a pay dispute.

There will be no service except on three routes linking Milngavie with Glasgow and Edinburgh, and connecting Glasgow and South Lanarkshire.

ScotRail have warned of widespread disruption, with limited services running on a small number of routes. Rugby fans heading to Scotland’s first autumn international match against Australia have been urged to consider alternative arrangements as a result of limited services.

ScotRail have confirmed the latest strike dates.

ScotRail passengers face disruption from indefinite RMT overtime ban from Friday - and more strikes

On the day of strike action, ScotRail has confirmed it will only be able to operate a limited service between 7:30am and 6:30pm on three routes. The routes will be:

Milngavie – Edinburgh Waverley via Glasgow Queen Street Low Level (half hourly service). Glasgow Central – Lanark (hourly service). Glasgow Central – Larkhall (hourly service).

More than 2,000 ScotRail employees are members of the trade union, with staff working as conductors, ticket examiners, station staff, engineering depot staff and CCTV operators all expected to take part in the action.

As a result, ScotRail has warned there will be widespread disruption to its services across the country.

David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “We’re really disappointed that the dispute with the RMT remains ongoing, given the strength of the improved pay offer ScotRail made.”

ScotRail has offered workers a 5 per cent increase in basic pay, with Mr Simpson insisting further strike action by the union was having a “damaging effect on railway’s recovery” from the Covid pandemic “at a time when we should be encouraging more people to travel”.

But he added: “Instead, our customers are being severely impacted and our staff losing out through lost wages.”

Earlier this week, Network Rail members of the RMT trade union announced they would take part in 24-hour strike action on Thursday, November 3, Saturday, November 5, and Monday, November 7.

While ScotRail staff are not involved in the strike, it will have a major knock-on effect on the train operator’s ability to provide services as the RMT planned action will involve Network Rail staff in Scotland.

Mr Simpson added: “Regrettably, we won’t be able to operate the vast majority of our services on Saturday, 29 October, and customers should expect significant disruption to services due to the large proportion of ScotRail staff who are members of the RMT trade union.

“We’re advising customers, including rugby fans intending to travelling to Scotland’s first autumn international at Murrayfield, to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel by train if they really need to. We remain open to resolving this dispute.”

RMT has been contacted for a statement.