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GOOD LUCK GETTING TO THE OFFICE!

Scots commuters set for Black Monday as SNP’s state-run railway slashes a third of journeys while motorists face 126 sets of crippling roadworks, so...

By Patricia Kane and Alice Giddings

COMMUTERS face Black Monday tomorrow as a third of Scotland’s rail services are axed – and miles of roadworks threaten gridlock on major routes.

The slashing of up to 700 trains a day – most of them in the early morning and evening – promises to inflict travel misery on hundreds of thousands of employees as they try to get to and from work.

The devastating cuts, by the newly nationalised ScotRail, come as Scotland’s road network faces some of the most challenging conditions seen in recent years – with 126 sets of roadworks scheduled for the coming weeks.

The chaos has resulted from a train driver shortage and an ongoing pay dispute between ScotRail and the Aslef union, whose members opted not to work overtime. As pressure mounted last

night on hapless Transport Secretary Jenny Gilruth, it emerged:

● Passengers are already suffering – with 111 trains cancelled yesterday;

● ScotRail is facing growing clamour to refund annual season tickets, some costing commuters up to £5,248;

● Analysis of train timetables from 1972 shows that many services are now worse than they were 50 years ago;

● Ms Gilruth faces accusations of hypocrisy over her use of chauffeur-driven limousines.

Critics last night blasted a lack of planning for the ‘shambles’ which has arrived as hardpressed households already face soaring public transport fares and relentless fuel hikes.

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Neil Bibby said: ‘Already people trying to get to work in Scotland were forced to choose between unreliable and overpriced trains, skyhigh fuel costs and gridlocked traffic in the car, or a bus network on the brink of collapse.

‘These fresh cuts to rail will leave passengers stranded by a woefully inadequate service, while still paying record amounts for the privilege. This SNP rail shambles will drive people back into their cars at the very moment we need to be shifting to greener modes of transport.’

Mr Bibby said in the meantime the SNP ‘must do right by commuters and stop charging rip-off fares for such a shoddy service’.

ScotRail was nationalised by the Scottish Government last month after the previous operator, Abellio, had its franchise ended early amid criticism of the quality of the service.

But since May 8, hundreds of trains have been cancelled and Aslef has balloted members for strike action after rejecting a ‘derisory’ 2.2 per cent pay offer.

On Wednesday, the 40,000-strong Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union is expected to reveal the result of a ballot on strike action, claiming its members have been subject to pay freezes and job threats.

ScotRail’s May 2022 timetable had approximately 2,150 weekday services, but from tomorrow this will be reduced temporarily by a third to 1,456. It means commuters in some areas will not be able to reach their destinations by 9am and last trains on many routes will depart before 8pm.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the timetable will get back to normal ‘as quickly as possible’.

Yesterday, in Glasgow Central station, the information boards displayed five cancellations at one point, with services to Mount Florida for the Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Hearts also being axed.

The cuts are likely to prompt more commuters to travel by car. But last night drivers were warned to expect delays due to congestion and roadworks. Official notifications show there are 126 sets of roadworks scheduled which have a completion date up to June 30, with more lasting into 2024.

In an 11-week repair job starting tomorrow, the M90 will be shut overnight near Bridge of Earn in Perthshire to allow Muirmont Bridge to be jacked up. On eight nights from Tuesday, there will be a 10mph convoy system on the A82 between Crianlarich and Tyndrum in Stirlingshire to allow for resurfacing works.

Overnight carriageway closures are required on the northbound section of the M80 to repair a mile of trunk road. The M8 in Glasgow is affected by major roadworks to the north and west of the city centre, some of which will continue until November next year.

Under the ScotRail cuts, the last trains leaving cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen will set off much earlier than usual.

The last train from Edinburgh to Glasgow will be at 10.15pm instead of 11.45pm. The last service from Glasgow to Stirling is currently 11.51pm, but will now depart at 7.49pm.

The last service from Glasgow to Aberdeen will leave at 6.41pm instead of 9.40pm.

Edward Mountain, Tory MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: ‘Anyone travelling from Speyside can now only get to Edinburgh for 10.50am and will have to leave by 3.30pm to get home.’ He said businesses will find it ‘crippling’.

Scotland’s Night Time Industries Association said thousands of small businesses and jobs were being put at risk. A spokesman yesterday described the cuts as a ‘cruel blow’ to businesses trying to recover from the pandemic.

Paul McKay, ScotRail’s head of communications, said: ‘We know what customers want more than anything is certainty and reliability, which is why we are introducing a temporary timetable.’

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