THE Tartan Army will “be coming down the road” in their excited droves ahead of Scotland’s vital World Cup play-off against Ukraine, at Hampden Park next
Wednesday.
But as things stand, there will be a Hampden Roar of rage as many of their 50,000-foot soldiers may be forced to come back up the road early or miss the game altogether, if the recently nationalised train operator ScotRail doesn’t make drastic changes to their emergency timetable which saw them slash over 700 services in response to a driver shortage and pay dispute with the train drivers union ASLEF.
It’s a shambolic piece of scheduling which, before yesterday’s improved pay offer, had the last train leaving Mount Florida at 8.46pm and the last train departing Glasgow to Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth well before the match would have even kicked off.
For fans travelling to Edinburgh, it could have meant a lung-bursting 3.5-mile sprint to Queen Street after the game if they are to catch the last train at 10.15pm
Shunting aside for the moment the inconvenient truth that the Scottish Government, as owners of ScotRail are ultimately responsible for getting the trains back on track, their Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth said that: “This is, of course, Scotland’s most important game in a long time and we really want to ensure that supporters can get to and from the match”.
A new pay offer has now been made. We can only hope the train drivers accept it.
The slashing of services was a devastating blow and came at the worst possible time, not only to travelling football fans but to commuters and businesses right across Scotland.
Particularly its Covid-crunched hospitality, sports, tourism and events sectors, which were again severely impacted, some terminally so by this punishing timetable and maddening dispute.
Large tourist-driven events this summer such as the 150th Open Golf Championship at St Andrews and Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival and Military Tattoo could be hammered if this dispute is not quickly resolved, as tourists will just not bother coming.
Music festivals and large stadium shows could also come a cropper as music fans, fearing they will be stranded, decide to stay away in their droves.
The current cuts to rail services will hit Scotland’s fragile night-time economy, which was first to close and last to open during the pandemic, like a giant wrecking ball.
A spokesperson for NTIA Scotland, said: “These devastating cuts are yet another cruel blow for Scotland’s hard pressed night-time economy and cultural sector, which are yet to recover from the pandemic.”
As Colin Wilkinson, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, says: “The revised train timetable and potential strike will simply stop people coming out to socialise. The threat of “tumbleweed” city and town centres draws nearer unless a reliable rail service is restored”.
Worryingly, UKHospitality Scotland has said that the timetable is already harming city centre businesses with hotels and restaurants reporting cancelled bookings.
Executive director Leon Thompson warned that daytime trade was being seriously affected as workers opted to stay at home and that, “If this dispute continues into the summer the implications for the economy and Scotland’s reputation as a leading visitor destination will be considerable”
Talks aimed at resolving the crisis took place yesterday between ScotRail and ASLEF, and a new pay offer was made. We can only hope the drivers accept the offer of a 4.2% rise -more than most other workers will get, or our summer will hit the buffers.
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