Two-day Arriva train strike called off after last minute talks

Arriva Trains Wales, which runs trains criss-crossing the county, was due to cancel all services for two days from midnight tonight.

A meeting was held yesterday between the company and the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) in an attempt to end the stand-off, which has already seen one strike in October aborted after negotiations resumed. But although talks had collapsed, further talks today saw the strike called off.

Arriva said it had offered an above-inflation three-year pay deal, worth 2.5 per cent in the first year, plus a one hour cut in the maximum daily working hours to nine-and-a-half hours, and a commitment to look at rest arrangements. The current base salary for a driver is £43,869, which would rise to £44,966, Arriva said.

It is unclear what was offered in latest talks.

Arriva Trains Wales is a key operator in Shropshire, providing services into Birmingham, Manchester, Crewe, Chester, Wolverhampton, Cardiff and Aberystwyth. Its links Shrewsbury with Telford, Oswestry, Wem and Ludlow among other destinations.