The company’s intervention comes after the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), which is threatening to strike later this month in a dispute over who operates doors on a new Glasgow to Edinburgh service, accused it of operating trains with only a driver and no second staff member on “hundreds” of occasions, in alleged breach of contract.
ScotRail said it had employed 77 additional conductors, who operate doors, since parent company First took over the franchise to operate passenger services in 2004 – an increase of 16%.
It has also created 120 additional ticket examiner posts in that time.
The company claims it would not be in its interest to operate trains without a second staff member as it would face financial penalties from the Government, but on “rare occasions” will do so for several stops if the alternative is cancelling the service.
It has also disputed claims that this breaches its franchise obligations.
