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Support for key workers with timetable changes

Posted: 27th March 2020

Services running across Scotland’s Railway will be further revised from Monday, 30 March, as we refine the arrangements we have in place to keep key workers moving.

Following Scottish Government guidance that advises people against all non-essential travel, ScotRail has focussed changes in the areas of the country where people need it most.

Those changes include earlier and later services for NHS workers at hospitals after consultation with health boards, and through feedback from customers on the services that are still being well used.

These included earlier services for NHS staff working at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, additional East Kilbride services for Hairmyres Hospital, and changes on multiple routes for Glasgow-based hospitals.

There will also be a reduction on services in the middle of the day, with off-peak customer journey numbers falling by almost 90 per cent year-on-year.

The Coronavirus is having an increased impact on staff working on Scotland’s Railway, and reducing the number of trains in service is creating opportunities for additional cleaning activities on trains, in depots, and at stations.

The service level will deliver more than enough seats to meet the current demand levels and the timetable will be kept under regular review to react to any further developments.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail Head of Customer Operations, said:

“We know how important a role Scotland’s Railway is playing and this further revision of the timetable will help the people who need it most across the country.

“It’s vitally important that everyone stays at home unless there’s no other option, and we have made the latest changes to help those key workers get to where they need to be.

“Our own people are part of that key worker group, working on the frontline to help the country through this crisis and we continue to work with the Scottish Government to play our part to help.”

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