'Major breakthrough' that could end rail strikes as train drivers set to vote on new pay offer

A "major breakthrough" which could signal the end of national rail strikes has been made in the long-running pay row involving drivers, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).

The department says that, following a series of "positive" talks led by the government, the train drivers' union ASLEF has agreed to recommend a new pay proposal to its members.

"The offer made to ASLEF is a 5% pay rise for 2022/23, 4.75% for 23/24, and 4.5% for 24/25," a spokesperson for the DfT said.

"The offer will now be put to ASLEF members in a referendum."

During the two-year pay dispute, drivers have taken 18 days of strike action as well as refusing to work non-contractual overtime.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: "When I took this job, I said I wanted to move fast and fix things - starting by bringing an end to rail strikes.

"The Conservatives were happy to see the taxpayer pay the price as strikes dragged on and on, and passengers suffered. This Labour Government is doing the right thing and putting passengers first.

"If accepted, this offer would finally bring an end to this long-running dispute, and allow us to move forward by driving up performance for passengers with the biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation."

The DfT has said new industry estimates suggest that train companies have missed out on around £850m of passenger revenue since industrial action began in the dispute in June 2022.

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