services were cancelled _ was not 100 scot rail services were cancelled yesterday due to staff absencel shows due to covid—19 cases among cast and crews, and staff— covid—19 cases among cast and crews, and staff shortages are already being _ and staff shortages are already being felt across the supply chain and they— being felt across the supply chain and they are exacerbating the intense — and they are exacerbating the intense pressures that the nhs and emergency services are working under~ — emergency services are working under. this is why we must act, and let me _ under. this is why we must act, and let me be _ under. this is why we must act, and let me be clear again, this is not a choice _ let me be clear again, this is not a choice between protecting health and protecting the economy. if we don't stem _ protecting the economy. if we don't stem the _ protecting the economy. if we don't stem the virus, both health and the economy— stem the virus, both health and the economy will suffer. before i set out the _ economy will suffer. before i set out the action we must take, let me ad

number of significant rail services across scotland being taken out of action from the operator scot raila further 70 cases potentially of this infection. it has led it has to be said to quite a number of people, significant numbers of people across scotland cancelling those christmas parties, despite the advice at this stage to just parties, despite the advice at this stage tojust defer parties, despite the advice at this stage to just defer those parties. many businesses have had a wave of cancellations today and they are really feeling the brunt of this as well. let'sjust be really feeling the brunt of this as well. let's just be clear though this is advice from the scottish government, there hasn't been a change in the law overnight, there hasn't been a change in the legislation. this is guidance, this is advice, but she did single out dinner dances in particular, those big tables of companies coming together that we see so much of at this time of the year. many people have been paying deposits for that. i think it will be down to the goodwill of companies to refund or to give credit

—— scotrail have said all the way through week and scots rail —— scotrail have said all the wayi've looked at i some of the train operators and they are saying, our customer relations team will not be back until tomorrow, our phone lines are incredibly busy. in terms of customer help, some of them are not available to answer those questions today. if you have a ticket by train that has been cancelled, how does it work at this time of year? weill. work at this time of year? well, it's really straightforward. i work at this time of year? well, it's really straightforward. you i it's really straightforward. you travel either on the train beforehand, and that is why it is well worth checking if your train is cancelled, or if you turn up at the station and it is cancelled there will almost always be a following train which will allow you to get where you need to be. however, there is not automatic right to use another train operator's service. so another train operator's service. 50 therefore if you have avanti ticket and you are hoping to travel part of the journey on northern, and