TRAIN users travelling from Alloa may have to look for alternative arrangements tomorrow as ScotRail strikes now seem inevitable.

Following the break-down in negotiations today, trade union RMT is still committed a campaign of strike and industrial action over driver only operation (DOO) and driver controlled operation (DCO) safety and job fears.

Earlier today, the union said the company has given notification that it won't attend a meeting, which was scheduled in a final effort to avoid industrial action. RMT bosses have hit-out at ScotRail for “sabotaging” the talks.

Trains had already not been running from Alloa the past few Sundays due to “train crew shortages” and that is likely to continue in the near-future, but more disruptions are coming on weekdays as well.

If strikes go ahead, services from Alloa to Glasgow as well as Edinburgh will be completely cancelled this Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, June 21, 23, 25 and 26.

More days of industrial action are planned for every Sunday until July 17 too and union members are also asked to refuse working overtime on Wednesday and Friday, June 22 and 24 as well as on June 27, July 2, 11, 16, 18 and 23. It is understood that beyond that, strike action will continue every Sunday until further notice.

According to the Scottish Government, it is estimated that around 70 per cent of services will still be able to run. A multi-agency response team (MART), with representation from police, network Rail, ScotRail, Traffic Scotland and operating companies, will also be monitoring the situation tomorrow.

RMT as well as train drivers' union ASLEF firmly believe driver only operations, where there is no conductor or guard for door operation or to deal with emergencies, are less safe for passengers and the workforce alike.

Read more about the safety-critical role of the guard here

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It is extraordinary that Abellio/Scotrail continue to ignore the strength of feeling amongst their staff over the extension of DOO and that they are still trying to by-pass the normal negotiating machinery. That disgraceful and cavalier approach to jobs and safety on Scotland’s railways now leaves us with no choice, but to move to a campaign of industrial action.

“Our members on ScotRail stand determined and united in this fight for jobs and safety on Scotland’s rail services. They have not been fooled by the [company's] dirty tricks and their attempt to influence and distort a democratic, secret ballot of the staff has backfired spectacularly with 75 per cent voting for strike action on a 75 per cent turn out – busting through the thresholds of even the most rabid, anti-union sections of the hard right.

He said the workforce knows any extension of driver only operations is a clear attack on their hard earned terms and conditions and added: "The workforce also know only too well that there is a very real threat to passengers of watering down and wiping out the safety critical role of the guard on these ScotRail services. ‎That is a lethal gamble with basic rail safety.

"The union remains available for serious and meaningful talks but the ball is now firmly in ScotRail’s court."

Services were cancelled last Sunday, June 12 too, with replacement buses running throughout the day.

A ScotRail spokeswoman told the Advertiser: “We worked hard to limit the impact on our customers by sourcing replacement buses and having extra staff at key locations to help our customers get to where they needed to be.

“We also took steps to give our customers as much notice as possible by posting general alerts on our website, social feeds and platform screens.

“We work round the clock to try and cover the timetable and encourage customers to check - and keep checking - their own journeys by using Journey Check or the ScotRail app before they travel."

Regarding the strikes, they added: “We believe that the solution to this dispute lies in talks, not strikes. More discussions with RMT are diaried for Monday June 20.”

A dedicated webpage has also been set up, for up-to-date information on the strikes and which services are affected, check here.