ScotRail introduce temporary timetable - check to see how north-east services are impacted

ScotRail will introduce a temporary timetable from Wednesday (July 10) as the rail operator aims to 'provide greater certainty and reliability for customers.'

The ongoing impact of fewer train drivers than normal being currently being available for overtime or rest day working, as is their contractual right, has led to the changes in services across the country.

It follows confirmation from drivers' union ASLEF that it will recommend to its Executive Committee a ballot for industrial action over pay.

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Over the past number of weeks, the train operator has been in pay discussions with the rail trade unions, ASLEF, RMT, TSSA, and Unite.

A formal pay offer in line with the Scottish Government’s public sector pay policy was made on Friday (July 5), however it was rejected by all four trade unions.

ScotRail says it is currently recruiting 160 new drivers – the highest level ever – each year to improve resilience, while some rest day working and overtime is still needed to deliver a normal timetable.

They added that the reduced timetable will mean ScotRail is able to provide a more reliable service for customers instead of late-notice cancellations.

It has however seen a reduction in services across the north-east, with the temporary timetable seeing ScotRail operate around 1,660 services each day Monday to Saturday, which is nearly 200 more services than the one introduced in 2022 when there was similar disruption.

The temporary timetable will also provide more than 515,000 seats each day, around twice the number of passenger journeys being made.

While the times of first or last trains on more than half of all routes will remain unchanged, there will be changes in the number of services provided during the morning and evening peak times – for example, where there are normally four trains per hour in the peak, this will reduce to a half hourly service, which is the same as the off-peak.

ScotRail is working on plans to support upcoming major events, including The Open at Royal Troon, and will update customers in the coming days.

Customers are strongly advised to check their journey before travelling by using the ScotRail website or app. These systems are due to be updated by around 10pm on Tuesday (July 9). Timetables for weekend travel are due to be in systems on Thursday evening (July 11).

Refunds are available to customers for booked journeys which are affected by the temporary timetable with no additional admin fee. Alternatively, customers can use their tickets to travel on an alternative service, or the day before or two days after their planned journey.

The train operator added that it remains fully committed to further talks to reach agreement on a pay offer that delivers value for the taxpayer and a fair pay increase for ScotRail employees.

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said: "We are very sorry to customers for the disruption to services. We know that customers want certainty and reliability, which is why we are introducing a temporary timetable, in place of late-notice cancellations.

"We are operating services which the vast majority of customers use and are still using all the available trains in our fleet so customers can continue to travel.

"We want to resolve the pay dispute with the trade unions and remain fully committed to further discussions. We’re asking customers to check their journey on our website or mobile app, as train times will have changed."

Aberdeen timetables in full

Edinburgh and Glasgow to Aberdeen

The following services will operate between the central belt and Aberdeen:

• 05:45, 17:25 Dundee to Aberdeen

• 05:30, 07:30, 09:30, 11:30, 13:28, 15:30, 17:30, 19:31 Edinburgh to Aberdeen

• 21:29 Edinburgh to Dundee

• 05:51, 07:41, 09:41, 11:41, 13:40, 14:39, 15:39, 17:41, 18:41, 19:37 Glasgow to Aberdeen

• 07:08, 09:05, 11:01, 13:09, 16:04, 19:14, 21:06 Aberdeen to Edinburgh

• 07:24, 09:44, 11:37, 13:46, 14:35, 15:35, 17:41, 18:36, Aberdeen to Glasgow

• 17:09 Aberdeen to Dundee

Aberdeen to Inverness

The following services operate between Aberdeen and Inverness (see elsewhere for services between Aberdeen and Inverurie):

• 06:14, 07:18, 08:23, 10:08, 11:57, 13:41, 15:50, 17:25, 18:15, 20:18, 22:00 Aberdeen to Inverness

• 07:18, 20:24 Elgin to Inverness

• 05:49, 06:59, 08:56, 10:56, 12:39, 14:28, 15:35, 17:20, 18:01, 21:30 Inverness to Aberdeen

• 18:56, 22:15 Inverness to Elgin

• 07:47 Huntly to Aberdeen

• 06:14, 07:18, 08:23, 10:08, 11:57, 13:41, 15:50, 17:25, 18:15, 20:18, 22:00 Aberdeen to Inverness

• 07:18, 20:24 Elgin to Inverness

• 05:49, 06:59, 08:56, 10:56, 12:39, 14:28, 15:35, 17:20, 18:01, 21:30 Inverness to Aberdeen

• 18:56, 22:15 Inverness to Elgin

• 07:47 Huntly to Aberdeen

Some services continue beyond Aberdeen.

Montrose to Inverurie

This service is combined with Aberdeen to Inverness, and Aberdeen to the central belt.

First trains

• 06:14 Aberdeen to Inverurie (to Inverness)

• 06:24 Montrose to Aberdeen (from Dundee to Inverness)

• 07:18 Inverurie to Aberdeen

• 07:08 Aberdeen to Montrose (to Edinburgh)

• 07:24 Aberdeen to Montrose (to Glasgow)

Morning peak service of

• Four trains per hour from Montrose to Aberdeen (all from Dundee or further south)

• One or two trains every hour from Inverurie to Aberdeen

Core daytime service of

• One train every two hours from Montrose to Aberdeen

• One or two trains every hour from Aberdeen to Inverurie

Evening peak service of

• One or two trains every hour from Aberdeen to Inverurie

• Four trains per hour (some to Dundee or further south)

Evening service of

• Limited service from Montrose to Aberdeen

• One train every hour or two from Aberdeen to Inverurie

Last trains

• 22:49 Aberdeen to Inverurie

• 21:50 Montrose to Aberdeen (from Glasgow)

• 21:46 Inverurie to Aberdeen

• 21:14 Aberdeen to Montrose