PLANNING is "well advanced" to minimise disruption caused by rail strikes for those visiting The Open golf tournament, Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has said.
Strikes are planned for Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in an ongoing dispute between ScotRail and the RMT union over driver-only trains.
The train operator will provide extra services to Troon, South Ayrshire, throughout Thursday to Sunday for the thousands of spectators attending the championship, although anyone travelling is urged to plan their journey in advance.
Mr Yousaf said: "These rail strikes are continuing to inconvenience people right across the country.
"It's particularly disappointing that they are falling on the week of the Open Championship, which is one of the highlights of Scotland's sporting calendar.
"However, rail passengers should note that travel planning is well advanced with ScotRail offering an enhanced timetable above the regular provision.
"More services and carriages will run between Glasgow Central and Troon throughout Thursday to Sunday to allow the vast majority of people to travel to and from the venue with minimum disruption to travel plans."
Several days of industrial action have already been held and the conciliation service Acas has been involved in trying to resolve the dispute, but it remains deadlocked.
The union wants no extension of driver-only trains and for conductors, not drivers, to be in control of operating doors.
ScotRail insists there will be no job losses or pay cuts and that there is no safety issue.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "It is clear to the union from their failure to intervene that the Scottish Government are committed to introducing driver-only trains, a practice that RMT views as unsafe and inherently dangerous.
"RMT has been engaging with the public over the last eight weeks and we have the overwhelming support of the Scottish people who want to see a safety-critical guard on our services and not this watered down version of scheduling a second person on the train who has no safety-critical function and who can be removed at the drop of a hat."
Meanwhile, drivers at Glasgow's biggest bus company are threatening strike action in a row over staff shortages.
Trade union Unite has launched a consultative ballot to ask its 1700 members employed by First Glasgow whether they would be in favour of strikes or other industrial action over what is described as a "substantial shortage" of drivers.
Unite said recruitment and retention at the bus giant has "steadily deteriorated" over the last year due to factors such as starting pay and career progression, leaving the company short of as many as 100 drivers.
It added that pressure on existing staff has been exacerbated by a failure to bring in enough temporary drivers to cover First Glasgow's one-month contract providing replacement bus services while the Glasgow Subway is shut for repairs.
Wendy Dunsmore, Unite Regional Officer, said: "We urge the company to meet with union representatives at the earliest opportunity to resolve a number of underlying issues for the benefit of the workforce, the company and the public."
A spokesman for First Glasgow said: "We will consider the ballot result when known, and remain happy to meet with Unite representatives to discuss their concerns."
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