Rail firm team leaders refuse to drive trains in addition to manager duties
From our archives 5 years ago
SCOTRAIL could be facing a new wave of industrial problems with staff. Team managers will stop driving trains and could go on strike in a dispute over working conditions. Scotrail brought in a policy that makes 50 managers cover such shifts in addition to their own duties, a move which a union says leaves them “overstretched and stressed out”. TSSA said the company failed to consult with it over the move and staff voted in July for industrial action. Members have now decided to refuse to drive trains, work rest days, do overtime or cover “on-call” shifts or lieu days from August 22. The union said this will leave Scotrail without sufficient cover for its “understaffed” driver team and lead to train cancellations.
10 years ago
TOURISM chiefs are launching a map of Outlander locations so fans of the books and TV series can follow in the footsteps of its characters. To coincide with the US premiere of the time-travel show today, fans of the bestselling books can view an interactive Visitscotland map. The online guide highlights real locations featured in Diana Gabaldon’s first two novels as well as visitor attractions and historical sites that have a strong connection to Outlander. The map was due to go live at www. visit scotland.com/outlander at midnight last night. It forms part of a wider £40,000 Visitscotland marketing campaign titled Scotland: The Land That Inspired Outlander.
25 years ago
ARGYLL and Bute Council is to tighten up its operations after a bridge replacement turned Garelochhead into a ghost village. A £3000 internal investigation into the problems which plagued the nine-month project has recommended six areas for improvement. Officials had been deluged with complaints about delays in completing the £200,000 replacement for the Mcauley Bridge, whose 200-year-old design prevented traffic passing through the village. Among the areas examined were the reasons for the delays, the “inadequacy” of local consultation, and the action taken to minimise disruption. Councillors on Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee called for the inquiry after complaints from villagers and traders, two of whom have gone out of business.
50 years ago
THE paddle steamer Waverley was sold for £1 yesterday. The bargain buy was to make legal the transfer to new owners of the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer. She cost £145,000 when built in Glasgow in 1946. The sale took place at Gourock pier where Paddle Steamer Preservation
Society members completed formalities of accepting the vessell. At the start of proceedings Sir Patrick Thomas, chairman of the Scottish Transport Group, made a donation of £1 to the society.
100 years ago
THE annual athletic meeting and Highland gathering run by the Scottish Command Sport Board was carried through at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, in favourable weather before a good turnout. A new Scottish Command record was set up in the long jump. Private Crearie, 1st King’s Own Scottish Borderers, beat the previous best by 9½ inches. He had a narrow victory over Sergeant J Clarke, Depot, Royal Scots, by a quarter of an inch. In the half-mile Private Valentine, 1st KOSB, equalised the Scottish Command record for the distance of 2min 3sec.