Commuters off the rails

Oct 7 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

PERTH commuters will face rail travel chaos this week after talks aimed at averting two 24-hour strikes broke down without agreement yesterday.

Nearly 450 signalling workers, members of the members of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) will hold two walk-outs this week in a row about rosters and transfers.

The stoppages, which will hit Network Rail, will start at noon today and again on Thursday.

Train operator First ScotRail has warned customers that the action will severely disrupt services.

A limited timetable between Glasgow and Edinburgh is likely but it is expected that no trains at all will run north of Perth during the stoppages.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “Network Rail is blatantly trying to unilaterally rewrite agreements without consulting the workforce.”

But Network Rail's David Simpson denied claims that they were wishing to make changes to rostering hours.

He added: “We apologise to all who would be affected by a strike which is outwith our control.

“Despite our best efforts to resolve this dispute, we are bitterly disappointed to inform passengers and freight operators that the RMT still intends to take strike action this week.

“We have been unable to shift the union from their position – a position that puts safety at risk by demanding safety assessments be voluntary, not compulsory.

“We have prepared a contingency train service which aims to reduce the impact on passengers as far as possible. Details are available from train operators and National Rail Enquiries.”

Renewed discussions got underway yesterday after eight hours of talks with the conciliation body ACAS failed to come to any agreement on Friday.

First ScotRail said customers should check their website for revised timetables.