Drivers accept new pay offer

Commuters have been affected by the stoppages

A long-running rail dispute is to end after drivers agreed a new 19% pay deal with managers.

The train drivers' union Aslef said its members had accepted the revised offer from First North Western.

The pay increase will take place over three years and will also include altered working conditions.

It follows a series of stoppages which began in the summer of 2002 affecting commuters across north-west England and north Wales.

'Accepted' vote

Aslef said that 65% of its members had voted in favour of the revised offer.

Colin Smith, Aslef's representative in the region, confirmed: "The industrial action will cease.

"[The deal] hasn't reached the aspirations of our members but I suppose we have to look at the democratic vote and we have accepted it."

Mr Smith said the union still had to discuss issues over drivers' rest days with the rail company, but confirmed that there would be no further strike action.

First North Western said it was "delighted" the pay offer had been accepted but warned that drivers would need to agree to work on rest days to allow it to run a full service.

Managing director Vernon Barker said: "I am delighted for both our customers and staff that the pay deal has now been accepted and the continuous threat of strike action and disruption to our services is now over."