ScotRail Warns of Service Disruptions and Busy Journeys Due to Driver Shortage

ScotRail has issued a warning to passengers regarding anticipated disruption and “very busy” travel conditions on Sunday, attributing some service cancellations to a shortage of drivers. The railway operator stated that a “particularly challenging” weekend preceding Christmas has led to a reduced number of drivers being available for duties on their designated rest days. Significant service interruptions are presently affecting the route connecting Glasgow and Edinburgh, both cities anticipated to experience high volumes of shoppers and attendees of Christmas markets. Additionally, football enthusiasts are expected to travel to Hampden Park in Glasgow for the Scottish League Cup final, scheduled for 15:30, featuring Celtic against Rangers. The cancellations have affected services destined for Mount Florida station, which serves as the railway stop for Hampden Park, with bus replacement services being provided for certain routes starting around 13:30. On a broader scale, ScotRail indicated that “possible replacement buses” are being organized for additional cancelled services, and ticket acceptance will be implemented wherever feasible. Mark Ilderton, ScotRail’s service delivery director, stated: “We are sorry to customers for the cancellations to services today, which have been necessary due to a shortage of available drivers.” He added: “We know how inconvenient this is to people travelling, and we are doing everything we can to make sure they can complete their journey.” Passengers seeking current information can consult the ScotRail application or website, or alternatively, the Network Rail live departures website. ScotRail had previously articulated its objective to decrease its dependence on drivers performing duties on their rest days by the year 2027. The operator reported that it is presently recruiting 160 drivers annually, a figure higher than any other UK operator. BBC Scotland News had previously documented that a record number of drivers are departing for alternative employment or retirement, noting that 81 new drivers completed the company’s training program in 2023/24, while 75 established drivers exited. An instructor from ScotRail informed BBC News earlier this month that, notwithstanding the intake of new drivers, the rate of staff departures indicates it will take 18 months for driver numbers to begin rising to the necessary level for rest-day operations. The trade union ASLEF Scotland stated that it has been requesting ScotRail “for years” to integrate Sunday into the standard working week for drivers. In a post on X, they commented: “The operators have relied on overtime to run the service on a Sunday. Train drivers are contracted to 35 hours per week but all work over 40 per week on average over a year.” They further noted: “As part of the 2022 pay agreement ScotRail are to introduce Sundays to be part of the working week by Dec 2027. There has little to no progress on this. ” The statement concluded: “As such passengers suffer with more cancelled trains. Our negotiators are ready to meet with ScotRail at anytime on this.”