Rail strike threat averted

Rail commuters faced six days of strikes

A series of 48-hour strikes by workers on First North Western trains has been averted after a new deal was accepted.

Members of the RMT union were due to stage three walkouts this month after rejecting a 3.5% pay offer.

But the union has accepted a reduced working week of 35 hours from next September - a cut of two hours.

Members will also now receive the 3.5% pay rise.

Workers agreed to a reduced working week

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said he was pleased with the deal.

The stoppage would have affected guards and ticket collectors on the company's network, which ranges from Carlisle to Birmingham.

The union had been negotiating with the company since April.

The train drivers' union Aslef called off a threatened strike against First North Western at the weekend after a last-minute deal over pay.

Earlier this year, railway stations across northern England were deserted as guards employed by Arriva Trains Northern went on strike.