Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has called on Bank Holiday travellers to prepare ahead of a planned strike by Network Rail.
Across the UK, the strike will involve around 25,000 Network Rail staff, including signallers, maintenance workers and some station staff at large stations such as Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley.
Whilst negotiations to avert industrial action are still on-going, ScotRail have taken the step of publishing a list of routes that will run but with a limited timetable.
From the information given, all services to Perth and Stirling from the Central Belt will be cancelled and Murdo predicts this will cause issues for retailers looking to make the most of good Bank Holiday trading conditions.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said;
“It is vital that passengers who rely on rail travel within Perth and Kinross, Fife, Stirling and Clackmannanshire are fully aware of changes to schedules arising from any strike. I am urging commuters to keep an eye on the Scotrail website and make alternate transport arrangements should the strike go ahead.
“For businesses in the region this strike comes at the worst possible time with retailers expecting a busy Bank Holiday Monday. I would encourage both parties to get back to the negotiating table as the real victims of this strike will be the commuters and hardworking people across Scotland who rely on the railways.
“This strike will undoubtedly bring extra pressure on our road network and I would urge drivers to be patient and give themselves more time to complete their journeys, especially on roads like the A9.”