ScotRail is to cut hundreds of services as part of a temporary timetable due to staff shortages amid a pay dispute.
Around 600 services will be affected from Wednesday, with the rail operator claiming the move will “provide greater safety and reliability” for customers rather than late cancellations.
It comes after four unions – ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and Unite – rejected a pay offer last week.
The train drivers’ union, ASLEF, called the provisional timetable “economic vandalism” as it considers a vote for union action over the dispute.
Dozens of trains have been canceled and services affected in recent days due to a lack of workers.
ScotRail said fewer drivers than usual are available for overtime or rest days, as is their contractual right.
The temporary timetable foresees the daily operation of 1,660 services from Monday to Saturday, compared to the usual level of around 2,250, a reduction of 26%.
First and last trains on more than half of all routes will remain the same, but services during peak times will revert to off-peak times.
The public company said it is recruiting 160 new drivers, but “a few days of rest and overtime are still needed to maintain a normal schedule.”
Mark Ilderton, director of service delivery at ScotRail, apologized for the disruption.
He added: “We are operating services that the vast majority of customers use and we still use all available trains in our fleet so customers can continue to travel.
“We want to resolve the pay dispute with the unions and remain fully committed to further discussions.
“We ask customers to check their journey on our website or mobile app as train times will change.”
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ScotRail said planning is underway to support travel to major events, including The Open golf tournament in Troon.
Customers with reservations on services cut from the timetable can request a refund without an additional administration fee or can use their tickets on an alternative service.
Kevin Lindsay, Scottish organizer for ASLEF, said the Scottish Government was taking a “fantasy land approach” to industrial relations on the country’s railways.
He added: “Rather than reducing the timetable in an act of economic vandalism that will affect towns and cities across Scotland, as well as Scotland’s rail passengers, ScotRail and the Scottish Government must take wages seriously and urgently return to negotiating table with a serious and credible offer.
“The Scottish Government and ScotRail need to quickly understand that investment in our railways includes investment in its most precious resource, its workers.
“We urge them to come back to us with an offer that is serious and that treats our members with the fairness and respect they deserve.”
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