PASSENGERS on the Borders Railway face further disruption tomorrow Saturday October 8, Monday October 10 and from Friday October 14 onwards.

Network Rail’s Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) members will take part in 24-hour strike action on Saturday, October 8, across the Great Britain railway network, resulting from a pay dispute with the track and infrastructure operator.  

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A large proportion of ScotRail’s employees are members of the RMT, including in roles such as conductors, ticket examiners, hospitality, station staff (including train dispatch), engineering depot staff, train presentation, supervisors, resource co-ordinators, and CCTV operators.

As it stands, on Saturday, ScotRail are planning to operate services on the Borders line between 07.30 and 18.30

The first train to leave Tweedbank will be at 7.18am and then there will be two trains each hour with the last leaving at 4.48pm.

The first train to leave Edinburgh Waverley will depart at 7.43am then there will be two trains each hour with the last train leaving at 5.13pm.

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The Borders Railway will not run in either direction on Monday October 10 when RMT general grades members will take part in 24-hour strike action resulting from the pay dispute with the train operator.

On the day of strike action ScotRail has confirmed it will only be able to operate a limited service between 07.30 and 18.30 on the following three routes: Milngavie – Edinburgh Waverley (half hourly service), Glasgow Central – Lanark (hourly service) and Glasgow Central – Larkhall (hourly service).

The RMT has also advised ScotRail that its general grades members will take part in an overtime and rest day working ban as part of action short of a strike from Friday October 14 which will have some impact to ScotRail services until the dispute is resolved.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail Head of Customer Operations, said: “We’re really disappointed that the dispute with the RMT has reached this outcome, given the strength of the improved pay offer ScotRail made.

“This strike action does nothing for the railway’s recovery at this fragile time. It will severely impact our customers and it will also cost our staff through lost wages.

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“Due to the large number of ScotRail staff who are members of the RMT, ScotRail customers should expect significant disruption to services on Monday, October 10, as we won’t be able to operate the vast majority of our services.

“We’re advising customers to seek alternative means of transport and to only travel if they really need to on Monday, October 10.

“We remain open to resolving this dispute.”

Mick Hogg, RMT Scottish organiser described the 5% pay offer as a “kick in the teeth” and urged the First Minister to “Get in sorted.”

He said: “RMT today have rejected the ScotRail revised pay offer.

“The 5% goes no where near the cost of living crisis and constitutes a pay cut, not acceptable to RMT members. Enough is enough.

RMT members are not prepared to sit back and watch the bosses get richer at the expense of the workers who deliver for ScotRail…the 5% is a kick in the teeth, therefore we want more.

“If we don’t get more we will strike until we win or until someone says, ‘if it’s good enough for the bosses it’s good enough for the workers’.”

In a heated message to Nicola Sturgeon, Mr Hogg added: “Our message to the First Minister is as follows: Get real and stop the p*ssing about, it’s your annual conference in Aberdeenshire this weekend, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, therefore no delegates will travel by train up to Aberdeen, and no delegates will travel home by train.

“Get it sorted as it’s under your watch.”

Mr Hogg said RMT remains available for talks to continue.