The problem has taken centre stage for Scotland’s major transport operators since First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed nine days ago that 60 ScotRail trains had been cancelled because of workforce absences, with the number increasing to 150 a day last weekend among its 2,000 scheduled daily services and totalling some 700 by Friday.
Bus operators have faced similar problems, exacerbating driver shortages caused by Brexit, training delays and the lure of higher pay for driving lorries.
MSPs have complained of bus passengers being left stranded by sudden changes, while islanders have seen their sole link to the mainland temporarily suspended after CalMac ferry crews were forced to self-isolate.
The outlook is grim for Scotland’s already-struggling transport sector, with Omicron threatening to wipe out the rebuilding of passenger numbers after successive lockdowns cut traffic to as little as 5 per cent of…
