SCOTRAIL has confirmed there will temporary timetable changes from next week due to Covid-related staff absences.

Staff absences have already impacted services, mainly across the central belt, with many having been cancelled or amended in recent weeks. 

To provide customers with a level of certainty about which services will run over the next few weeks, temporary changes will be in place from Tuesday, January 4 until Tuesday, January 28. 

The changes will mainly affect central belt services from Monday to Friday and will be spread out across the day. 

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David Simspon, ScotRail Operations Director, said: “Like most businesses, ScotRail is not immune to the impact of coronavirus. We’ve been working flat out to run a safe and reliable railway in really difficult and rapidly changing circumstances.  

“As we continue to battle against the impact of coronavirus, we want to provide customers with a level of certainty, which is why we are introducing some temporary changes to our timetable from Tuesday, January 4 until Tuesday, January 28 2022.  

“We’ve looked to spread these changes out across the day where possible to minimise the impact on our customers, but people should plan ahead and continue to check the train times right up until they arrive at the station.  

“We urge anyone travelling with us to stay safe and continue to follow government guidance. This includes maintaining good hand hygiene and wearing a face covering for your entire journey.”  

Robert Samson, Transport Focus Senior Stakeholder Manager, added:  “It’s better for some services to be temporarily withdrawn on a planned basis than to have chaotic last-minute cancellations as these are harder for passengers to deal with. 

“Passengers need clear, reliable information to plan their journeys and a timetable that is dependable. These temporary changes to the timetable should deliver an increased level of certainty for passengers.”

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The following routes from Glasgow will be affected by the changes: 

  • Glasgow Central - Neilston/ Newton
  • Glasgow Central - East Kilbride
  • Glasgow Central - Lanark
  • Glasgow Central - Ayrshire/ Inverclyde/ Stranraer
  • Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts
  • Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh Waverley via Airdrie & Bathgate
  • Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh Waverley via Cumbernauld & Falkirk Grahamston
  • Glasgow Queen Street - Stirling/ Dunblane/ Alloa
  • Glasgow Queen Street - Anniesland via Maryhill

A full list of changes can be found on the ScotRail website.