TRAIN services are being impacted as ScotRail staff test positive for Covid-19 and self-isolate as the Omicron variant spreads.
ScotRail said there had been a sharp rise in the number of colleagues who have either tested positive or are self-isolating as a precaution.
Nicola Sturgeon mentioned at the Covid briefing on Friday that there had been 60 ScotRail cancellations due to staff shortages.
They said that there were 38 staff self-isolating last week and that has risen to 50 this week.
Travellers are being advised to check journeys before arriving at stations as services are mainly being affected across the central belt.
David Ross, ScotRail communications director, said: "We’re sorry to our customers who are being inconvenienced as a result of an increase in the number of our staff self-isolating due to Covid.
“We are working flat out to run a safe and reliable railway in difficult circumstances.”
The TSSA union said the reintroduction of the 10-day self-isolation period showed a need for the return of the furlough scheme.
READ MORE: Omicron could cause 'tsunami of infections' Nicola Sturgeon has warned
General secretary Manuel Cortes said: “Sturgeon’s intervention today reinstating 10-day isolation on contact with the virus was welcome.
“But we are one island and to fight off the Omicron variant we need Britain-wide action.
“That’s why Boris Johnson needs to immediately reinstate the furlough scheme so businesses can send non-essential staff home without loss of income.”
During the First Minister's Covid briefing, Nicola Sturgeon mentioned that the uptick in cases and people isolating has already had an impact with dozens of train services already cancelled.
She said: "The numbers of people becoming infected even mildly and having to isolate will put a significant strain on the economy and on critical services.
"We’re actually starting to see this already. I can tell you that today there are 60 ScotRail cancellations due to staff shortages, and these staff shortages are mainly due to Covid."
Watch the full Covid briefing below
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here