ScotRail set to restore full timetable after months of reduced service – Scottish Business News

SCOTRAIL has announced the restoration of its full train timetable starting today (Monday, October 7, 2024) following months of reduced service. This move comes after the resolution of a pay dispute with train drivers that had led to a limited schedule since July 10.

The reduced timetable was implemented after the pay disagreement with drivers resulted in numerous last-minute cancellations as they refused to work overtime or on rest days. To improve reliability for customers, ScotRail were forced to introduce a temporary schedule with fewer trains.

The breakthrough came when 75% of Aslef union members voted to accept a new agreement, which includes a 4.5% salary increase retroactive to April. This resolution paved the way for the return to a full service schedule.

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail’s Service Delivery Director, expressed enthusiasm about the restoration, stating, “We are delighted to confirm that our full timetable will return on Monday. We have been working round the clock to deliver this in a very short space of time because we know how important a full service is to our customers.

“It’s been a difficult few months for our customers and staff, and we thank everybody for their patience.”

Despite the positive development, a number of issues still persist, including:

• Reduced Frequency: Some routes still have fewer trains compared to pre-Covid levels. For instance, trains between Glasgow and Edinburgh continue to operate every half hour during much of the day, rather than every 15 minutes as before.
• Driver recruitment: The company is actively recruiting new drivers, with plans to hire 160 annually. However, the training process is lengthy, and some new hires will be replacing departing staff.
• Peak Fares: Coinciding with the timetable restoration, peak-time fares have been reintroduced, a move that has faced criticism from trade unions and environmental organisations.

Passengers are advised to check the updated timetable online, as some trains may not operate at the times customers have become accustomed to recently, and connections may vary. Meanwhile, ScotRail is working to decrease its dependence on driver overtime, but this process will take time.