Train drivers drop strike threat

First Great Western reached an agreement on hours

The planned one-day strike by train drivers across north Wales on Wednesday has been called off following talks in London between their union, Aslef, and First North Western.

The two sides have agreed on a 35-hour working week to be introduced in September.

Settlement: Aslef reached an agreement after talks

The dispute centred around drivers' hours - Aslef claimed the company had broken an undertaking to introduce a 35-hour working week last May.

For their part, First North Western alleged the union had back-tracked on an agreement to make the shorter hours self-financing through productivity savings.

Afterwards, a union spokesman described the deal as a "tremendous victory" for the drivers, who had voted overwhelmingly to take a stand on the issue.

First North Western said it had been concerned to avoid industrial action to prevent inconvenience to commuters.

Aslef train driver colleagues on the London Underground suspended their threat of own industrial action earlier this year.

The drivers had been concerned by safety issues, amid talk of part-privatising the underground system.