A THIRD of Sunday rail services will be withdrawn from this weekend as ScotRail struggles with a shortage of train drivers.
 
The operator said it would be forced to run a reduced service from this Sunday after the number of drivers volunteering for overtime "declined steeply" in recent days amid an ongoing dispute with members of the Aslef union.
It comes amid six weeks of major engineering works near the Winchburgh Tunnel which have already cut the number of services between Edinburgh and Glasgow. 
Union members have rejected the offer of a 2.5 per cent pay rise plus £500 bonus - reduced from a previous offer of £1000. 
They are unhappy that the pay rise is tied to productivity, and by plans to switch to a seven-day working week - cancelling overtime pay for Sundays. 
Aslef has also raised concerns over a proposal for drivers instead of conductors to operate doors on more trains, which could threaten 150 conductors' jobs on the Edinburgh-Glasgow route.
Kevin Lindsay, the union's organiser in Scotland, said it was "scandalous". 
He added: "ScotRail receives taxpayer money to run the railway in Scotland for seven days a week, not six. The Scottish government should stand up for Scotland and fine the company for reducing our railway service.
"The pay offer of 2.5 per cent, which we have rejected, is productivity based. Aslef is happy to discuss having Sundays as part of the working week but there have been no firm proposals from the company on this. 
"The company initially offered a one-off bonus of £1,000 for ensuring Sunday services were covered but then withdrew that offer and reduced it to £500 because, they said, they want to use the money to recruit more drivers.
"So, basically, they are asking train drivers who are already employed to pay for the recruitment of new colleagues."
ScotRail said it wanted to hire 100 new drivers - a 10 per cent increase in the workforce - to ensure a more "robust" service for passengers which was not reliant on overtime. 
The starting salary for a fully qualified train driver, once training and a probationary period is complete, is around £39,000.
Unless resolved, the dispute could hit golf fans travelling to St Andrews for the Open, which will run from July 16-19.
ScotRail said that although fewer trains will run, all available carriages will be used. It will also operate bus services to enable important connections with ferry services.
David Sidebottom, passenger director of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: "Passengers will be disappointed by news that ScotRail and Aslef have not been able to reach an agreement regarding pay negotiations. This means uncertainty for passengers, so it is crucial that all parties get back around the table and resolve this matter so it impacts on services as little as possible.
"It is passengers who suffer most in the event of changes to timetables. Passengers will need plenty of advance information about what services will be running to allow them to plan their journeys during this uncertain time."
Details of temporary Sunday timetables will be available on the ScotRail website. 
Phil Verster, Managing Director of the ScotRail Alliance said: "We have inherited a business that runs a seven day railway with a system of staff rostering that covers only six days. Our customers want the same level of service right throughout the week, so we have to make changes and improve our railway. We cannot expect our train drivers to volunteer for so many Sundays when our rosters should reflect a modern, seven-day railway for Scotland. 
"We have made an offer to our train drivers that would see them get more pay, have less weekend working and have a better work/life balance."