ScotRail cancelling services July 2024

[eoff]

I wasn't paying attention to the details but there were annoucements at Prestonpans station today about what sounded like dire service provision on Sat/Sun. Not sure if this was North Berwick and or Tweedbank services.

 

[hexagon789]

I wasn't paying attention to the details but there were annoucements at Prestonpans station today about what sounded like dire service provision on Sat/Sun. Not sure if this was North Berwick and or Tweedbank services.

Looks like North Berwick - only 4 down to run Edinburgh to North Berwick: 0709, 0754, 2140 and 2314; 0639, 0713, 0753, 0833, 2222 making 5 back.

Tweedbank appears to be hourly.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Looks like North Berwick - only 4 down to run Edinburgh to North Berwick: 0709, 0754, 2140 and 2314; 0639, 0713, 0753, 0833, 2222 making 5 back.

Tweedbank appears to be hourly.

It’s definitely is getting worse. I don’t think it’ll be long before we see political engagement from opposition parties. The government probably waiting until any outcome of a ballot, but has to be said I cannot see anything other than a yes vote for all motions.

 

[eoff]

I had not noticed this which confirms the Tweedbank 3hours I thought I heard...

ScotRail issues travel advice for this weekend

ScotRail is issuing travel advice to customers ahead of a busy sporting weekend, with two major events taking place in addition to a number of service alterations which could impact on travel. This weekend will see the final two days of play at The Open Championship at Royal Troon, while Rangers...

www.scotrail.co.uk

Service part of that page...

On Saturday, 20 July, customers are advised of the following changes to ScotRail services:

• Glasgow - Alloa service will be reduced from half-hourly to hourly. Trains will depart from Alloa at 45 minutes past the hour and from Glasgow at 49 minutes past the hour.
• Most services between Edinburgh and North Berwick will be withdrawn, with a bus replacement in operation for most of the day. Trains will operate the 0639, 0716, 0753, and 0833 North Berwick to Edinburgh and the 2140 and 2314 Edinburgh to North Berwick services.
• Glasgow - Newton service will be reduced form half-hourly to hourly with departures from Glasgow at 45 minutes past the hour and from Newton at 19 minutes past the hour.

On Sunday, 21 July, the following changes will take place to ScotRail services:

• Edinburgh – Tweedbank will operate every three hours rather than hourly. Departures from Tweedbank to Edinburgh will be at 0947, 1248, 1547 and 1848 and from Edinburgh to Tweedbank at 1113, 1411, 1712, 2011 and 2210
• Edinburgh – North Berwick services will operate every two hours rather than hourly. The first service from Edinburgh will be at 0937 and the first service from North Berwick will be at 1024.
• Edinburgh – Dunblane services will operate with two services every three hours, rather than hourly. The first service Edinburgh will be at 0935 and the first service from Dunblane will be at 0945.
• Glasgow – Cumbernauld will be withdrawn. Unfortunately, bus replacement is not possible.
• Glasgow – Lanark will operate every two hours rather than hourly. The first service from Glasgow Central 1020 and the first service from Lanark will be at 1121.
• Wemyss Bay – Whinhill will be served by a replacement bus to allow onward connections to the Gourock – Glasgow service.

 

[Busman652004]

In discussing industrial action in the latest Passenger Transport magazine it states "if you live in Scotland or Wales you will be unaffected as your railway is publicly owned" (my italics). Typical of the promotion of public ownership without reference to what actually happens on the ground. When will we realise that ownership is far from being the most important thing in how good a railway is. Some parts of BR were excellent and others awful and the same has been true since privatisation although this has led to massive improvement of some lines.

The nationalisation of Scotrail was a totally missed opportunity to promote the publicly owned railway. It was a totally voluntary nationalisation with ample time to plan. It could have been the "poster boy" for what could be achieved with more and faster services, improved trains etc. Instead the best Government seemed to be able to claim was that things won't get any worse. In reality pre covid frequencies were never restored on some key routes and some of these services have now been further reduced - one train per hour now from my local station into Edinburgh in place of the pre covid four. Despite the reductions cancellations continue as I saw when out and about today although in fairness the trains I actually used were spot on.

 

[ld0595]

It’s definitely is getting worse. I don’t think it’ll be long before we see political engagement from opposition parties. The government probably waiting until any outcome of a ballot, but has to be said I cannot see anything other than a yes vote for all motions.

Surprised we haven't to be honest. Though maybe it's because Holyrood is in recess.

I'm travelling down from Aberdeen in 3 weeks time and not really looking forward to it. My booked train at ~16:30 has already been canned and I suspect the next few may end up being disrupted...

 

[computerSaysNo]

Looks like North Berwick - only 4 down to run Edinburgh to North Berwick: 0709, 0754, 2140 and 2314; 0639, 0713, 0753, 0833, 2222 making 5 back.

Tweedbank appears to be hourly.

The replacement buses on the North Berwick line - who is operating these and where would I find the timetable?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The replacement buses on the North Berwick line - who is operating these and where would I find the timetable?

According to journey planners it’s running 2 hourly departing Edinburgh at 09:40, 11:40, 13:40, 15:40, 17:40 and 19:40.

 

[swaldman]

I realise this is asking for crystal ball gazing, but does anybody who follows industrial relations more than me have any speculation to offer on whether the emergency timetable is still likely to be in use two weeks from now?

They've seen fit to delete the Far North Line train that meets the Orkney ferry, so I'm facing a choice of a >4 hr wait for the next train (which gets me there too late), or bus all the way to Glasgow, or driving all the way. Or £120 to fly. None of which are attractive options :-/ And the last one, perhaps the most attractive, won't stay at that price if I wait to see.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I realise this is asking for crystal ball gazing, but does anybody who follows industrial relations more than me have any speculation to offer on whether the emergency timetable is still likely to be in use two weeks from now?

I have heard a rumour another timetable reduction is being looked at. This one may see trains run during the daytime only with an extremely limited service at weekends. This would be broadly in line with the timetables seen during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Basically trains between 0700 and 1900 only with nothing outside of that.

Time will tell if this is correct, but it is going to get worse before it gets better.

 

[hexagon789]

I realise this is asking for crystal ball gazing, but does anybody who follows industrial relations more than me have any speculation to offer on whether the emergency timetable is still likely to be in use two weeks from now?

They've seen fit to delete the Far North Line train that meets the Orkney ferry, so I'm facing a choice of a >4 hr wait for the next train (which gets me there too late), or bus all the way to Glasgow, or driving all the way. Or £120 to fly. None of which are attractive options :-/ And the last one, perhaps the most attractive, won't stay at that price if I wait to see.

I have heard a rumour another timetable reduction is being looked at. This one may see trains run during the daytime only with an extremely limited service at weekends. This would be broadly in line with the timetables seen during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Basically trains between 0700 and 1900 only with nothing outside of that.

Time will tell if this is correct, but it is going to get worse before it gets better.

I've seen/heard this also from a couple of sources. It may not happen, but its certainly a contingency being investigated.

 

[Buffer stop]

I realise this is asking for crystal ball gazing, but does anybody who follows industrial relations more than me have any speculation to offer on whether the emergency timetable is still likely to be in use two weeks from now?

They've seen fit to delete the Far North Line train that meets the Orkney ferry, so I'm facing a choice of a >4 hr wait for the next train (which gets me there too late), or bus all the way to Glasgow, or driving all the way. Or £120 to fly. None of which are attractive options :-/ And the last one, perhaps the most attractive, won't stay at that price if I wait to see.

Book the flight ASAP

 

[swaldman]

Thanks all. Flight booked in the one direction. If they cancel things further I might have to look at the return as well... (the return is not *currently* disrupted)

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Thanks all. Flight booked in the one direction. If they cancel things further I might have to look at the return as well...

I would just go for it to be honest. The chances of things getting worse is pretty high.

 

[Porty]

Thanks all. Flight booked in the one direction. If they cancel things further I might have to look at the return as well...

When I returned from Orkney last year the Citylink coach was waiting immediately outside the ferry terminal and took me to Inverness. In many ways an easier journey than using the train. I think it was quicker than the train option.

 

[swaldman]

When I returned from Orkney last year the Citylink coach was waiting immediately outside the ferry terminal and took me to Inverness. In many ways an easier journey than using the train. I think it was quicker than the train option.

Thanks, but I already looked into this. The coach on that day arrives in Inverness too late to get the next train south. And I don't fancy 8-9 hours on coaches all the way to Glasgow.

 

[GordonT]

I've seen/heard this also from a couple of sources. It may not happen, but its certainly a contingency being investigated.

Surely some kind of revision to the current emergency timetable has to happen as it's far from sustainable especially at weekends?

 

[najaB]

In many ways an easier journey than using the train. I think it was quicker than the train option.

It should be faster since the bus continues across the Donorch Firth rather than making the long detour inland.

 

[swaldman]

It should be faster since the bus continues across the Donorch Firth rather than making the long detour inland.

Indeed. But on this occasion it sets off later.
Believe it or not, I'm going by the Citylink website here rather than people on the internet

 

[hexagon789]

Surely some kind of revision to the current emergency timetable has to happen as it's far from sustainable especially at weekends?

I expected a revision before now tbh, especially given the massive issues at the weekend there.

 

[ld0595]

I expected a revision before now tbh, especially given the massive issues at the weekend there.

Wasn't part of the issue caused by increased services to Troon with the Open being on? It seemed to me that there weren't a huge number of additional cancellations all things considering (unless I missed them!)

 

[Scotrail314209]

Sundays in particular have been dire recently. Every train that came into Edinburgh was extremely busy (and some were single units). Even the 8 carriage Glasgow trains being one an hour were not coping at all.

I definitely can see even more of a reduction coming, it’s not looking good that the temporary timetable is still unsustainable.

 

[footprints]

Getting to and from the Edinburgh festivals is going to be fun.

 

[Moonshot]

I have heard a rumour another timetable reduction is being looked at. This one may see trains run during the daytime only with an extremely limited service at weekends. This would be broadly in line with the timetables seen during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Basically trains between 0700 and 1900 only with nothing outside of that.

Time will tell if this is correct, but it is going to get worse before it gets better.

It would make sense to do that.......and I can't see things getting better. Eventually it will come to a stage where a minimal service is standard

 

[Blindtraveler]

A great advert for nationalisation, high season in Scotland for local travellers and visitors alike. And the railway delivers us this and they can't even blame some third-party private operator

 

[43066]

A great advert for nationalisation, high season in Scotland for local travellers and visitors alike. And the railway delivers us this and they can't even blame some third-party private operator

Indeed. Unless there’s a willingness to sort the underlying issues, which will require spending money, the ownership will make little difference.

 

[Falcon1200]

I have heard a rumour another timetable reduction is being looked at. This one may see trains run during the daytime only with an extremely limited service at weekends. This would be broadly in line with the timetables seen during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Basically trains between 0700 and 1900 only with nothing outside of that.

Is the already-reduced service performing so poorly that such a further savage withdrawal is necessary? My experience, on weekdays, is that this is not the case. On the two routes I used today, for example, the Wemyss Bay and Neilston branches, every single booked train so far today has run. And a quick check of other locations, such as Tweedbank and Dumfries, shows one cancellation at the former and none at the latter.

 

[Peter0124]

I have heard a rumour another timetable reduction is being looked at. This one may see trains run during the daytime only with an extremely limited service at weekends. This would be broadly in line with the timetables seen during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Basically trains between 0700 and 1900 only with nothing outside of that.

Time will tell if this is correct, but it is going to get worse before it gets better.

Unbelievable. Embarrassing. Particularly with the weekend thing for which Saturday is the busiest day of the week for travel in the noon hours. It's not like the demand is back down to covid lockdown level, at the height of the summer holidays.

Bus and taxi firms are probably celebrating at this.

 

[hexagon789]

Is the already-reduced service performing so poorly that such a further savage withdrawal is necessary? My experience, on weekdays, is that this is not the case. On the two routes I used today, for example, the Wemyss Bay and Neilston branches, every single booked train so far today has run. And a quick check of other locations, such as Tweedbank and Dumfries, shows one cancellation at the former and none at the latter.

Think it's more weekends, weekdays would be more a paring of service hours than frequency.

 

[Falcon1200]

Think it's more weekends, weekdays would be more a paring of service hours than frequency.

Fair enough, although the '0700-1900' mentioned in Post #310 would not apply on Sundays, when there are no trains before 0700 anyway! Perhaps just on Saturdays?