Scotrail has announced a new temporary timetable that will affect services across Scotland, including many in Edinburgh after a coronavirus outbreak among staff.
The rail company has released the new temporary service times on their website, and public transport users have been urged to check their routes to see if they have been affected.
READ MORE - Nicola Sturgeon issues warning as Scotland confirms record number of Covid cases
The services that have been affected by the new timetable are listed below:
Edinburgh - Dunbar/North Berwick
Edinburgh - Fife
Edinburgh and Glasgow - Stirling/Alloa/Dunblane
Edinburgh - Newcraighall~Tweedbank
Glasgow - Edinburgh via Cumbernauld and Falkirk Grahamston
Glasgow - Edinburgh via Airdrie/Bathgate
Glasgow - Maryhill/Anniesland
Glasgow - Edinburgh via Shotts
Lanarkshire
Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Stranraer
Glasgow - East Kilbride
Glasgow - Neilston and Newton
Normal service will resume on the services listed as follows: Glasgow – Barrhead, Kilmarnock and Carlisle, Glasgow – Paisley Canal, Glasgow – Edinburgh via Falkirk High, Edinburgh and Glasgow – Dundee/Arbroath/Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow – Inverness, Inverness – Inverurie/Aberdeen/Montrose, North Highlands, and West Highlands.
In a statement published on their website, Scotrail have said: "The rapid spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant has resulted in a large number of absences at ScotRail, with colleagues testing positive, awaiting results, or having to self-isolate. This means that several services have been changed or even cancelled, in recent weeks.
"To avoid further last-minute changes and provide a greater level of certainty to our customers, a temporary timetable will come into effect from Tuesday 4 January 2022, operating Monday to Friday until Tuesday 28 January 2022.
"If your service has been cancelled, you may be entitled to a refund. Please visit our dedicated refunds page for more information.
"If you hold an Advance ticket for a service that has been cancelled, you can travel on the earlier or next available service with your existing ticket."
This news comes as Christmas Covid cases have reached an all-time high on Boxing Day, and are reported as the highest daily totals since the beginning of the pandemic.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pleaded with the general public to continue following the current regulations in order to stop the spread of the Omicron variant.
Over the last seven days alone, Edinburgh has recorded 5,809 positive cases of the virus, with a seven day positivity rate of 1,101.
This has resulted in a 15.5 per cent positivity rate, meaning that 15.5 per cent of all tests carried out have been recorded as having the virus.
Find out if you are affected by the new temporary timetable by visiting the Scotrail website, here.
