Rail strikes in Scotland a ‘perfect storm’ for passengers and businesses

Scots face a “perfect storm” if national rail strikes go ahead next week, business leaders have warned.

ScotRail and cross-border train operators will cut 90 per cent of services on three separate days as thousands of railway workers plan to walk out in a dispute over staffing.

There will be no trains north or south of the central belt on June 21, 23 and 25 unless a deal can be reached between the RMT union and Network Rail.

Even on the few routes kept open there will be no services before 7.30am and none after 6.30pm.

Business leaders have today warned the economic impact could be devastating at a time of year many Scots are heading off on holidays.

Passengers heading to the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston or the Barry Manilow concert at the Hyrdo in Glasgow could be impacted by the strike.

But the north and south of the country face the worst travel chaos with no services running at all.

Colin Wilkinson, managing director of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, warned many people would simply not bother going out if the strikes go ahead.

“Businesses are slowly recovering after the pandemic and just when most are looking forward to a good summer along comes a national rail strike which will deter people from travelling,” he said.

“If there are no trains people won’t bother going out at all and who can blame them.

“Nobody wants to be worrying about how they will get home after meeting friends in the pub or enjoying dinner.

“There’s also the safety aspect to consider as every business and venue wants to ensure that their staff and customers can get home safely late at night.”

Wilkinson added: “We are already aware of hotel and restaurant bookings being cancelled.

“With soaring utility bills, serious staffing issues and now disruption on the railways, this summer is shaping up to be a perfect storm for businesses.”

Fergus Mutch, of Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, told BBC Scotland: “If there’s no trains we’re scuppered.

“It’s going to be an absolute disaster.

“We have had severe disruption for several weeks now, off the back of the most miserable couple of years, it’s going to hit the north east economy hard.

“It’s going to be a nightmare for business travellers, for those going to and from work, for people travelling for leisure, at the start of the peak of Scotland’s tourist season, visitors to this country flooding in, restricted services or non-existent services.

“Aberdeen is being completely cut off. We think that is completely unacceptable.”

The UK-wide dispute has been caused by Network Rail planning to axe hundreds of critical maintenance jobs.

It is not linked to the separate dispute involving ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, and ScotRail.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “While this dispute is a matter for the RMT union and the relevant employers, we would of course encourage all parties to engage in meaningful dialogue to ensure a satisfactory agreement can be reached for the benefit of passengers and staff alike.

“This is particularly important given the current cost of living crisis.

“The Transport Minister has written to Grant Shapps making this clear and also that we will be very clear with the public where the responsibility for this issue rests.”

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