ScotRail planned strikes 2026: Is my train running this week?

You can find the most up-to-date information at the following sources:

• ScotRail’s Industrial Action page provides updates whenever strikes are confirmed. 
• National Rail also publishes information about planned rail strikes and industrial action on their Industrial Action page.

Strike action can have a significant impact on your travel plans, so staying up to date is essential.

Full ScotRail strikes typically have a very significant impact on services, collapsing their network to just 11 or 12 routes across the Central Belt, Fife and the Borders. You can expect ScotRail strikes to result in:

• Fewer trains per hour on routes that remain in operation, as well as later starts to service and earlier ends of service. This means that travel between major cities like the Glasgow–Edinburgh route is usually reduced to one to two trains per hour, usually between 07:30 and 18:30.
• Rural routes – such as the Highland Mainline, Far North & West Highland Lines, Aberdeen/Dundee and the South West – often experience zero service, as routes outside the Central Belt rely more heavily on manual signalling.
• Routes still in operation will usually be much more crowded than usual thanks to the reduced service.

Tips for navigating ScotRail strikes

If your ScotRail train is impacted by strike action, follow the advice below:

• Allow extra time: If your route is still operating, allow extra time – especially for services occurring during matches at Murrayfield or Hampden Park, as giant queues can form at stations during these times. Delays are common even for services listed as running.
• Plan alternatives in advance: As soon as you decide to avoid strike-impacted rail routes, book your alternative travel – whether that’s an alternative train route, a coach service or a car hire. Demand will increase for these alternatives, so you must act fast.
• Avoid remote routes without alternatives: If you are planning travel to remote destinations served by routes like the West Highland Line, backup transport options are very poor. Stations like Corrour, Rannoch and Tyndrum are essentially black holes during strikes, with no road access, meaning you can’t just catch a bus. Avoid routes like these during rail disputes, especially if hiring a car is not an option for you.

Coaches for intercity travel

Alternative rail operators

Car hire

In some more rural areas, such as the Highlands, car hire may be the only option for getting from A to B. If you see a strike confirmed for your travel dates and driving is the only alternative available to you, make sure to hire a car as soon as possible, as hire prices often spike when strikes are announced.

How far in advance are ScotRail strikes announced?

Will trains still run during ScotRail strikes?

Yes, trains usually still run during ScotRail strikes, but on a significantly reduced timetable. ScotRail typically restricts its network to 11 or 12 core routes within the Central Belt, often leaving rural routes with limited or zero service. Core routes usually see one or two trains an hour running between major stations, with later starts and earlier finishes.

Can I get a refund if my train is cancelled?

Do ScotRail strikes affect rural routes more?

Yes, ScotRail strikes have a much greater impact on rural routes across Scotland, such as in the Highlands or the South West, as there are few alternative transport options available. There are often no other trains operating on rural Scottish routes, and some destinations on the West Highland Line and the Far North Line are completely inaccessible by any other form of transport, while others only offer very infrequent or limited bus services.