SCOTRAIL is set to make temporary changes to its timetable from next week. 

Rail bosses said services across the country will be temporarily changed between January 4 and January 28 due to Covid-related staff absences.

The changes will mainly affect services in the Central Belt from Monday to Friday and will be spread out across the day where possible to "minimise the impact on customers' journeys".

The rail operator said the changes are being made to provide customers with a level of certainty about which services are running in the coming weeks. 

Glasgow routes affected by the timetable revision:

  • Glasgow Central - Neilston/ Newton. 
  • Glasgow Central - East Kilbride.
  • Glasgow Central - Lanark. 
  • Glasgow Central - Ayrshire/ Inverclyde/ Stranraer. 
  • Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts. 
  • Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh Waverley via Airdrie and Bathgate.
  • Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh Waverley via Cumbernauld and Falkirk Grahamston. 
  • Glasgow Queen Street/Edinburgh Waverley - Stirling/ Dunblane/ Alloa. 
  • Glasgow Queen Street - Anniesland via Maryhill. 

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David Simpson, ScotRail Operations Director, said: "Like most businesses, ScotRail is not immune to the impact of coronavirus.

"We’ve been working flat out to run a safe and reliable railway in really difficult and rapidly changing circumstances.

"As we continue to battle against the impact of coronavirus, we want to provide customers with a level of certainty, which is why we are introducing some temporary changes to our timetable from Tuesday, January 4 until Friday, January 28, 2022.

"We’ve looked to spread these changes out across the day where possible to minimise the impact on our customers, but people should plan ahead and continue to check the train times right up until they arrive at the station. 

"We urge anyone travelling with us to stay safe and continue to follow government guidance. This includes maintaining good hand hygiene and wearing a face covering for your entire journey."

Robert Samson, Transport Focus Senior Stakeholder Manager, said: "It’s better for some services to be temporarily withdrawn on a planned basis than to have chaotic last-minute cancellations as these are harder for passengers to deal with.

"Passengers need clear, reliable information to plan their journeys and a timetable that is dependable.

"These temporary changes to the timetable should deliver an increased level of certainty for passengers."

Customers are also being reminded that there will be changes to the scheduled stops of some services. 

ScotRail confirmed it will continue to review staff absence levels over the coming weeks.

A full list of the changes can be found HERE.