Scotland signal workers to strike

[Datafever]

BBC News - Scotland / March 7, 2007

Strike to cause rail disruption

Rail passengers are set for days of disruption as signal workers stage a 48-hour strike in Scotland.

Network Rail said its priority was to keep as many trains as possible running during the stoppage, which is due to begin at 1200 GMT.

However, First ScotRail said several services would be suspended from mid-morning on Wednesday until peak times on Friday.

There will be reduced services on other routes, including Glasgow to Edinburgh.

Network Rail has been drawing up contingency plans with train operator First ScotRail following the collapse of talks with the RMT union.

'Massive disruption'

Its members voted last month to take strike action in a dispute over working hours.

The RMT, which has 480 members in Scotland, predicted that the strike would cause "massive disruption".

However, David Simpson, the Scottish route director at Network Rail, says the priority was to keep as many trains running as possible.

First ScotRail said it was "as prepared as can be" for the strike, but warned passengers there would be reduced frequency and capacity on certain routes.

Full story here