Rail industry preparing for national strikes

[RPI]

Arguably the same with smaller stations too.

There’s one on one of my routes that has just one member of staff. Essentially they start the day by opening up the car park, the waiting rooms, the station toilets. Then they have to set up the booking office, and then they empty the bins, water the plants, clear away any rubbish, sick, broken glass, check for vandalism etc.

Essentially they’re the booking office clerk, the toilet attendant, the cleaner, the gardener, the tourist information centre, the refuge worker and station manager all in one

Nearly all the stations in my area are like this, the staff do all of above plus train dispatch and customer assists.

I'd like to think that with the changes coming there will be more gatlines, meaning the same staff can be deployed there IF there is a mass cull of booking offices.

 

[yorkie]

Ticket offices aren't dying off because bad staff have gradually driven all their customers away. They're dying off because of e-tickets as you are well aware.

It's a complex issue with no single cause; you are absolutely right that buying an e ticket from a website that gives you exactly what you want without fuss is easier than asking at a ticket office (which may be unwilling or unable to issue it).

Do you think the poor behaviour and attitude of some ticket office staff, who take their customers for granted, has had no effect in driving people away?

I was very lucky in that my local station was generally very good as ticket offices go, but even at York I ran into various problems on occasions, and elsewhere it was incredibly hit and miss.

Believe me, the occasions I've been refused sales, mislead, talked down to and given poor service at ticket offices leave a lasting impression.

If the customer gets the service they expect 9 times out of ten but has a poor experience on the other occasions, it's the poor experiences they are going to remember.

It annoys me the way some people on this forum seem to think negatively about the ticket office in general without really knowing what the job is about - as yourself and 142blue say it is a lot more than just tapping a few keys and handing a train ticket over the counter. I wouldn't say we're underpaid but the job is a lot more complex and testing than some seem to suggest and I think our salaries reflects this.

As I said, I don't want to see stations be destaffed but the way some ticket office staff members have behaved has accelerated their demise.

I see a similar thing with Guards on some lines where you seldom see them, and when you do, not all interactions are positive; it's hardly a good advert for their role when compared to the role of on board customer facing staff on ScotRail electrics.

If I was in the position where I felt some people wanted to do away with, or regrade, my job role, I would be pulling out all the stops to offer as good a service as possible to demonstrate the value of my role.

 

[Intermodal]

It's a complex issue with no single cause; you are absolutely right that buying an e ticket from a website that gives you exactly what you want without fuss is easier than asking at a ticket office (which may be unwilling or unable to issue it).

I don’t think discussions regarding customer service at ticket offices are particularly relevant to a topic about a national strike. Can we keep this on topic please?

 

[nedchester]

It's a complex issue with no single cause; you are absolutely right that buying an e ticket from a website that gives you exactly what you want without fuss is easier than asking at a ticket office (which may be unwilling or unable to issue it).

Do you think the poor behaviour and attitude of some ticket office staff, who take their customers for granted, has had no effect in driving people away?

I was very lucky in that my local station was generally very good as ticket offices go, but even at York I ran into various problems on occasions, and elsewhere it was incredibly hit and miss.

Believe me, the occasions I've been refused sales, mislead, talked down to and given poor service at ticket offices leave a lasting impression.

If the customer gets the service they expect 9 times out of ten but has a poor experience on the other occasions, it's the poor experiences they are going to remember.


As I said, I don't want to see stations be destaffed but the way some ticket office staff members have behaved has accelerated their demise.

I see a similar thing with Guards on some lines where you seldom see them, and when you do, not all interactions are positive; it's hardly a good advert for their role when compared to the role of on board customer facing staff on ScotRail electrics.

If I was in the position where I felt some people wanted to do away with, or regrade, my job role, I would be pulling out all the stops to offer as good a service as possible to demonstrate the value of my role.

100% correct.

As for ticket offices if I go to most Merseyrail stations and ask for anything other than a day return to Liverpool (something that can be issued by a TVM) then it often takes them ages or they'll say it takes them ages to issue. Once at Hooton I asked for an Off-peak return to London catching the 09:12 to Chester but was told it wasn't valid until 09:30 (like the local tickets). Took a couple of minutes of arguing to get them to issue the ticket. Meanwhile Chester gets a Gold star award as they will issue just about anything, asked for a West Mids Day Ranger (to save me buying it at Crewe) and a lovely lady was able to sell me that with no problem. Whoever, trains the staff at Chester is doing a great job. Merseyrail can replace their booking office staff with machine for all I care.

 

[RPI]

I see a similar thing with Guards on some lines where you seldom see them, and when you do, not all interactions are positive; it's hardly a good advert for their role when compared to the role of on board customer facing staff on ScotRail electrics.

If I was in the position where I felt some people wanted to do away with, or regrade, my job role, I would be pulling out all the stops to offer as good a service as possible to demonstrate the value of my role.

I have to agree, I see it every single day, the amount of guards who do very little are not helping the cause, and its a very large proportion.

Varies massively by TOC, Northern i find are very visible and generally always get a ticket check on their trains, but on some others (WMR I'm looking at you....) you'd be forgiven for thinking that they already are DOO.

This really doesn't help the public perception and I know the DOO debate has been done to death, but like it or not (and I'm not a huge fan, I sometimes have to work on DOO trains and they're a free for all with ferrel kids running rampant) it is a safe method of working particularly with technology advances and I have no doubt that the treasury will use this to the full.

I just have a very bad feeling about this whole thing. I'm a TSSA member and my grade has dual representation for collective bargaining with both TSSA and RMT so we'll now have a situation where the RMT members will be on strike but the TSSA ones such as myself won't be.

I'm not going to lie, I couldn't afford to strike or for that matter even work to rule right now, rightly or wrongly I'm dependent on working my Sundays and a few rest days in order to maintain a decent standard of living for my family and myself, some may say that's the point of the strike and I'd be inclined to agree to an extent, but the amount of any pay rise that we may get won't come close to how much extra I can earn by working the overtime that I do.

 

[Bluejays]

It's a complex issue with no single cause; you are absolutely right that buying an e ticket from a website that gives you exactly what you want without fuss is easier than asking at a ticket office (which may be unwilling or unable to issue it).

Do you think the poor behaviour and attitude of some ticket office staff, who take their customers for granted, has had no effect in driving people away?

I was very lucky in that my local station was generally very good as ticket offices go, but even at York I ran into various problems on occasions, and elsewhere it was incredibly hit and miss.

Believe me, the occasions I've been refused sales, mislead, talked down to and given poor service at ticket offices leave a lasting impression.

If the customer gets the service they expect 9 times out of ten but has a poor experience on the other occasions, it's the poor experiences they are going to remember.


As I said, I don't want to see stations be destaffed but the way some ticket office staff members have behaved has accelerated their demise.

I see a similar thing with Guards on some lines where you seldom see them, and when you do, not all interactions are positive; it's hardly a good advert for their role when compared to the role of on board customer facing staff on ScotRail electrics.

If I was in the position where I felt some people wanted to do away with, or regrade, my job role, I would be pulling out all the stops to offer as good a service as possible to demonstrate the value of my role.

I think staff behaviour will play a role, but a very small one compared to the effect that the change in technology and ticketing options has.

Ticket offices are probably the biggest area that will need to be changed soon. I'd hope that unions and govt can look constructively at what needs to be done and utilise the staff skills as best as possible.

Although I fear expecting constructive thinking from boris and the rmt is rather fanciful.

 

[Bantamzen]

For clarity, the view that it isn't practical at present for a large pay rise to be given to traincrew doesn't mean we look down on traincrew or think they are "lever monkeys". I think people in most industries are going to get very poor pay rises this year.

Exactly, this has been my point all along. Now is not a good time to be going out on industrial action when a lot of people won't be getting much of, if any pay increases. Add to that the growing desire to make deep cuts in the public sector by this government means this action is a best reckless. The unions have given the Tories a golden opportunity to make their members scapegoats for any future cuts to rail services. Its a spectacular own goal from 30 yards out.

 

[dgl]

Arguably the same with smaller stations too.

There’s one on one of my routes that has just one member of staff. Essentially they start the day by opening up the car park, the waiting rooms, the station toilets. Then they have to set up the booking office, and then they empty the bins, water the plants, clear away any rubbish, sick, broken glass, check for vandalism etc.

Essentially they’re the booking office clerk, the toilet attendant, the cleaner, the gardener, the tourist information centre, the refuge worker and station manager all in one

Well the cynic in me thinks that by getting rid of the ticket office clerk you'll need someone else to come in and do all those extra jobs, ripe for outsourcing to a friend of the government.
Naturally if you just look at someones job title and use that to claim that is all they do then that will heavily skew any attempt to get rid of the role and will end up costing more money in the long run, and a lot of the time these excellent bits of analysis will be from people who's job seems pretty pointless.
"They are a ticket office clerk so that must be all they do, and as no one is buying tckets at the station anymore we don't need them".

 

[A0]

I fear a Unions v Tories battle on the horizon to match the Miners Strike in the early 80s. They need something to distract us from.....well, it's a long list for another day.

With the railways coming back under tighter DfT (and therefore Treasury) control don't put it past them to slog it out with railway staff and just start taking an axe to branch lines, stations and services because of those "greedy unions".

On the other hand, it could be a further PR blunder for No.10 and could topple the Government. I guess the narrative will depend on what the tabloid press barons decide is best for their profit margins. I hope the workers win this time.

The only fly in the ointment if your polemic above is Scotland where the RMT are also picking a fight with an SNP (left wing) Scottish government, who have also responded by not acceding to the RMT's demands.

 

[mike57]

I wasn't surprised by the result, but I do feel that the RMT are walking into a huge 'bear trap' set by the government.

My (cynical) scenario:

RMT have long and bitter dispute with the TOCs, the TOCs cannot negotiate even if they wanted to because the DfT are pulling strings behind the scenes

Public sympathy even if there is any currently completely evaporates, particularly if inflation continues and other workers have to accept below inflation pay rises

Government uses dispute to undermine power of RMT and push through changes, possibly even going as far as 'fire and rehire' using the TOCs as a shield, and to carry out their (government) agenda

Government then completely abandons TOCs in their current format, and we look at renationalisation by stealth, but with the major changes which could have caused a 'national' rail strike/dispute already pushed through.

Government claim to 'have sorted out the railways'

Railway workers have lost income and have nothing to show for it.

I am not trying to make a political statement with this, or look at the rights and wrong, its just how I see it playing out

 

[Gems]

I very seldom log in here these days. Often months and months at a time before I venture here, and all I have seen this past few days is the reason why.

People need to have an adult conversation with themselves. The RMT does not browbeat members into strike action, only governments and managements do that. The RMT offered a ballot, and it's members spoke. That is something everybody has to learn to live with, and instead of shouting down, to being downright nasty towards those who voted 'Yes' ask yourselves "Why"?
I am not a RMT member, I don't like the RMT. I feel they are a manipulative bunch with an agenda, but neither does that mean I will shaft my colleagues by not supporting their actions. We are all a bit angry about the way we have been treated, and as much as nobody wants to lose money they cannot afford, there comes a point when you have to say "enough is enough"

When you reach the point of a strike these days, it is because workers feel desperate. We are all feeling desperate in this day and age, some more desperate than others. But that should not mean we should all accept that the only race that should be run is the race to the bottom. Many of you will not have witnessed the days of the 70s and 80s. It was inconceivable back then that nobody should have got a pay rise when inflation was ripping towards the 20% mark. Why should we accept it now just so that the government can finance weapons to support foreign wars, Offer tax incentives to it's palls, and write of £billions of pounds of fraud caused by Covid loans, track and trace nonsense, and dodgy Covid contracts for their mates?

My advice to the angry mob is this. Instead of expecting us railway workers to join you in the race to the foodbank, have a think about where you would like to be, and stop throwing away cheaply the rights your forefathers and sisters fought so hard for. This government thrives on ignorance, they treat you like something on the bottom of their shoe, and you deserve better.

Maybe I might log in here again when this is over. But I have no need or desire to read tripe of people who are happy to be downtrodden.

 

[RPI]

I wasn't surprised by the result, but I do feel that the RMT are walking into a huge 'bear trap' set by the government.

My (cynical) scenario:

RMT have long and bitter dispute with the TOCs, the TOCs cannot negotiate even if they wanted to because the DfT are pulling strings behind the scenes

Public sympathy even if there is any currently completely evaporates, particularly if inflation continues and other workers have to accept below inflation pay rises

Government uses dispute to undermine power of RMT and push through changes, possibly even going as far as 'fire and rehire' using the TOCs as a shield, and to carry out their (government) agenda

Government then completely abandons TOCs in their current format, and we look at renationalisation by stealth, but with the major changes which could have caused a 'national' rail strike/dispute already pushed through.

Government claim to 'have sorted out the railways'

Railway workers have lost income and have nothing to show for it.

I am not trying to make a political statement with this, or look at the rights and wrong, its just how I see it playing out

I fear you are correct

 

[Dai Corner]

I am not trying to make a political statement with this, or look at the rights and wrong, its just how I see it playing out

You're not, but I think the RMT leadership are and obviously the Government are.

It's all very reminiscent of 1984 when the miners were used as pawns in a political game.

 

[John Bishop]

I do hope the outcome of any strike is to make it clear the unions how little we are dependent upin rail, especially outside London. People just getting on with life would be a very healthy reality check.

Quite the opposite in fact. It’s been estimated it’s costing the Scottish economy £80 million pounds a week in lost revenue with the reduced timetable up here, never mind a full on strike! I suspect that effect will be mirrored across the nation.

 

[Grumpy Git]

I very seldom log in here these days. Often months and months at a time before I venture here, and all I have seen this past few days is the reason why.

People need to have an adult conversation with themselves. The RMT does not browbeat members into strike action, only governments and managements do that. The RMT offered a ballot, and it's members spoke. That is something everybody has to learn to live with, and instead of shouting down, to being downright nasty towards those who voted 'Yes' ask yourselves "Why"?
I am not a RMT member, I don't like the RMT. I feel they are a manipulative bunch with an agenda, but neither does that mean I will shaft my colleagues by not supporting their actions. We are all a bit angry about the way we have been treated, and as much as nobody wants to lose money they cannot afford, there comes a point when you have to say "enough is enough"

When you reach the point of a strike these days, it is because workers feel desperate. We are all feeling desperate in this day and age, some more desperate than others. But that should not mean we should all accept that the only race that should be run is the race to the bottom. Many of you will not have witnessed the days of the 70s and 80s. It was inconceivable back then that nobody should have got a pay rise when inflation was ripping towards the 20% mark. Why should we accept it now just so that the government can finance weapons to support foreign wars, Offer tax incentives to it's palls, and write of £billions of pounds of fraud caused by Covid loans, track and trace nonsense, and dodgy Covid contracts for their mates?

My advice to the angry mob is this. Instead of expecting us railway workers to join you in the race to the foodbank, have a think about where you would like to be, and stop throwing away cheaply the rights your forefathers and sisters fought so hard for. This government thrives on ignorance, they treat you like something on the bottom of their shoe, and you deserve better.

Maybe I might log in here again when this is over. But I have no need or desire to read tripe of people who are happy to be downtrodden.

Need a ‘like’ button.

However, I feel this government will use this strike to empower their Daily Mail & Daily Express disciples.

 

[A0]

I wasn't surprised by the result, but I do feel that the RMT are walking into a huge 'bear trap' set by the government.

My (cynical) scenario:

RMT have long and bitter dispute with the TOCs, the TOCs cannot negotiate even if they wanted to because the DfT are pulling strings behind the scenes

Public sympathy even if there is any currently completely evaporates, particularly if inflation continues and other workers have to accept below inflation pay rises

Government uses dispute to undermine power of RMT and push through changes, possibly even going as far as 'fire and rehire' using the TOCs as a shield, and to carry out their (government) agenda

Government then completely abandons TOCs in their current format, and we look at renationalisation by stealth, but with the major changes which could have caused a 'national' rail strike/dispute already pushed through.

Government claim to 'have sorted out the railways'

Railway workers have lost income and have nothing to show for it.

I am not trying to make a political statement with this, or look at the rights and wrong, its just how I see it playing out

How do you explain the situation at Scotrail then? The SNP led Scotgov have devolved responsibility there, don't need to defer to Westminster, yet at present are taking a similarly tough line with the RMT.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 May 2022 ==

Quite the opposite in fact. It’s been estimated it’s costing the Scottish economy £80 million pounds a week in lost revenue with the reduced timetable up here, never mind a full on strike! I suspect that effect will be mirrored across the nation.

Evidence for that claim about how much its costing the Scottish economy? (Preferably from a credible source i.e. not an RMT "press release").

 

[Smidster]

I think there are a lot of people on this thread who vastly overestimate how much the Government (or indeed average member of the public) will notice or care about these strikes.

Sure it isn't a good look for the Government to have this kind of industrial action hurting people but on the list of problems facing the Government it isn't anywhere near the top of the list and in the short term they will not change their approach regardless of how much pay of their pay the RMT decide to give back to their employers.

In the medium term I would expect legislation but they are certainly not going to bend-over backwards to deal with the RMT...and indeed why should they as we all know if you did then we would be in the same position next year when the RMT would want another payday.

 

[JonathanH]

I feel that there's a key point being overlooked here.

For the sake of argument let's assume (as seems reasonable) there's an acceptance that living costs (gas/electric/petrol/food/internet etc etc) have gone up by c.£3k per annum per household.

If you're on anything up to c.£30-35k per year then (morally at least) there's some justification to a 10% pay claim.

If though (again hypothetically) you're on c.£70k, then I'd doubt very much whether your "cost of living" has increased by £7k. Obviously willing to be corrected on this.

So I'd grudgingly support 10% pay claims for those on c.£30k but "much less so" on anyone earning upwards of £60k

~

Yes, very good points. Focusing scarce resources at those with lower incomes is something all employers should be doing.

 

[duncanp]

Quite the opposite in fact. It’s been estimated it’s costing the Scottish economy £80 million pounds a week in lost revenue with the reduced timetable up here, never mind a full on strike! I suspect that effect will be mirrored across the nation.

Yes, with last trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh to some destinations as early as 7 - 8pm, it means that it is impossible for people to travel to those two cities for a night out by train.

I have also seen people from places like Oban complain that the withdrawal of the early morning train to Glasgow makes it difficult to travel there and back in a day for hospital appointments.

Severely reduced timetables in England & Wales will have similar consequences.

 

[mike57]

It's all very reminiscent of 1984 when the miners were used as pawns in a political game.

I agree, however I dont think government has made the behind the scenes preparations that were made in 1984, and had been ongoing for 12 months prior to the strike.

 

[Towers]

You're not, but I think the RMT leadership are and obviously the Government are.

It's all very reminiscent of 1984 when the miners were used as pawns in a political game.

Exactly this. The RMT have been itching for a 'national' strike for years, the leadership will be wetting their pants over this. I don't believe for a moment that they want a resolution here, or think that one is even vaguely likely on their terms; this is simply the red loonies at the top living out their fantasies at the expense of their membership. It stinks.

I can't be the only person wondering how staff placing themselves into financial hardship for the summer is a sensible response to thinking that a payrise is deserved. I appreciate that there will be some TOCs where there are other issues ongoing, but they are very much separate situations and should be dealt with accordingly. The headline here is pay, and going on strike for months on end over that issue simply makes no sense.

 

[Bantamzen]

I very seldom log in here these days. Often months and months at a time before I venture here, and all I have seen this past few days is the reason why.

People need to have an adult conversation with themselves. The RMT does not browbeat members into strike action, only governments and managements do that. The RMT offered a ballot, and it's members spoke. That is something everybody has to learn to live with, and instead of shouting down, to being downright nasty towards those who voted 'Yes' ask yourselves "Why"?
I am not a RMT member, I don't like the RMT. I feel they are a manipulative bunch with an agenda, but neither does that mean I will shaft my colleagues by not supporting their actions. We are all a bit angry about the way we have been treated, and as much as nobody wants to lose money they cannot afford, there comes a point when you have to say "enough is enough"

When you reach the point of a strike these days, it is because workers feel desperate. We are all feeling desperate in this day and age, some more desperate than others. But that should not mean we should all accept that the only race that should be run is the race to the bottom. Many of you will not have witnessed the days of the 70s and 80s. It was inconceivable back then that nobody should have got a pay rise when inflation was ripping towards the 20% mark. Why should we accept it now just so that the government can finance weapons to support foreign wars, Offer tax incentives to it's palls, and write of £billions of pounds of fraud caused by Covid loans, track and trace nonsense, and dodgy Covid contracts for their mates?

My advice to the angry mob is this. Instead of expecting us railway workers to join you in the race to the foodbank, have a think about where you would like to be, and stop throwing away cheaply the rights your forefathers and sisters fought so hard for. This government thrives on ignorance, they treat you like something on the bottom of their shoe, and you deserve better.

Maybe I might log in here again when this is over. But I have no need or desire to read tripe of people who are happy to be downtrodden.

I could almost hear the red flag flying song reading this...

But seriously, why is it whenever someone presents an argument against striking at this time does someone have to pop up and accuse them of racing to the bottom? Personally speaking I was a union rep for many year (quitting only because I was deeply concerned about the direction it was taking), and if that time taught me anything was knowing when to pick fights. Because sometimes you will be on a hiding to nothing, & will only damage your member's position further. And this feels like the worst time of all, with economic woes, spiralling energy prices, a much bigger budget deficit than in 2019, and a government already well on the road to making deep cuts. At this time they are still some two years away from an election, not under anything like as much pressure from the lame opposition as they should be, so will have few qualms about making more cuts in the rail industry.

The writing is on the wall people.

 

[RPI]

One thing that nobody seems to have mentioned (but I apologise i they have and I've missed it), last year we were told there would be no pay rise UNLESS you earned below a certain amount (I believe it was around £22k but I may be wrong on the exact figure), anyone under that threshold was given a small rise, certainly with GWR anyway.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 May 2022 ==

I could almost hear the red flag flying song reading this...

But seriously, why is it whenever someone presents an argument against striking at this time does someone have to pop up and accuse them of racing to the bottom? Personally speaking I was a union rep for many year (quitting only because I was deeply concerned about the direction it was taking), and if that time taught me anything was knowing when to pick fights. Because sometimes you will be on a hiding to nothing, & will only damage your member's position further. And this feels like the worst time of all, with economic woes, spiralling energy prices, a much bigger budget deficit than in 2019, and a government already well on the road to making deep cuts. At this time they are still some two years away from an election, not under anything like as much pressure from the lame opposition as they should be, so will have few qualms about making more cuts in the rail industry.

The writing is on the wall people.

Again, I fear you're correct. I was never a fan of Bob Crow but for all his fist waving and chest banging he was a very shrewd negotiatior and picked his battles very well, the current RMT leadership just have an agenda to bring down the government and don't care who else becomes collateral damage.

The current RMT leadership is also the reason why I'm a TSSA member - not that they're much/any better but certainly at all levels other than the very top man they seem to be a lot less militant.

 

[Dai Corner]

I agree, however I dont think government has made the behind the scenes preparations that were made in 1984, and had been ongoing for 12 months prior to the strike.

They don't need to. The country isn't anywhere near as dependent on the railways now as it was on coal back then.

 

[muz379]

I hate to say this, because l actually value having guards on trains, but if lots go l strongly suspect that a DOO revisit is far more likely than major recruitment.

The issue with that is a lot of the networks isn't ready to just push the button on DOO it'll need significant investment . Which I cannot see this government doing.

Wait? You want to further tax people who were unable to work, and many of whom took a 20% pay cut to fund your bumper pay rise? Wow, I literally have no more words....

What bumper payrise?

We essentially have a tax for graduates some of whom do key jobs . I actually can see a tax for those furloughed being popular with the electorate and are we not told here that the public support is the most important thing ?

 

[gazzaa2]

No doubt the strikes will be Saturday every week.

 

[westv]

When will we know which days might be affected?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

However, I feel this government will use this strike to empower their Daily Mail & Daily Express disciples.

Having read the "axe to grind" wording that names newspaper titles of the posting above, it will be interesting to see the other side of the coin to ask will the RMT use this strike to empower their Socialist Worker disciples?

Two can play at that game.

 

[windnoise69]

Workers do have rights. But would any of you be happy if one of your loved ones died as there was nobody in A&E to save them as they'd all gone on strike? No you wouldn't. Obviously a train not running isn't the same life or death situation, but it's still an essential service and should still be protected from this level of chaos accordingly.


It's the leisure travel that'll start voting with their feet.


I'd just settle for a train that turned up and got me to my destination these days!

Give over on the NHS nonsense. That one has been overally milked dry by everyone.

 

[A0]

Yes, with last trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh to some destinations as early as 7 - 8pm, it means that it is impossible for people to travel to those two cities for a night out by train.

I have also seen people from places like Oban complain that the withdrawal of the early morning train to Glasgow makes it difficult to travel there and back in a day for hospital appointments.

Severely reduced timetables in England & Wales will have similar consequences.

Bits in bold - the first one isn't going to cause a hit of £ 80m / week to the Scottish economy. People might just go for a night out in their local town / city, they might use the coach - there are 4 coaches an hour on Citylink alone taking ~1hr between Edinburgh and Glasgow from 05.30 to 23.59, plus half-hourly between 00.00 and 05.30.

On the Oban one much the same - the train and coach are a similar duration at ~ 3 hours and there are coaches leaving Glasgow at 14.30 and 18.05.