The dispute has left ScotRail running a reduced timetable since July
A long-running dispute at ScotRail has come to an end after train drivers accepted a pay offer.
Drivers' union Aslef said 75% of members voted for the deal, which will provide staff with a 4.5% rise backdated to April.
ScotRail has been running a reduced timetable since July after many drivers made themselves unvailable for overtime or Sunday working.
The TSSA union, representing managerial and technical staff, also accepted the package but said a separate dispute over "on-call working" would continue.
Members of Unite and the RMT union previously voted to accept the pay offer.
Train services will not immediately return to previous levels, but ScotRail said it would update passengers "as soon as possible".
Aslef Scotland organiser Kevin Lindsay said it was a positive result that had been achieved through members' "resolute determination".
"I am pleased that ScotRail and the Scottish government have shown they understand the importance of our members to Scotland's rail service," he said.
"Appreciating the workforce in the railways is a fundamental prerequisite if Scotland is to deliver the world-class, affordable, attractive and accessible rail services the country needs."
PA MediaThe deal comes days before the end of a scheme that scrapped peak-time fares
The TSSA union welcomed the deal, but said its dispute over on-call working for operations managers "remains live".
General secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said, “I urge ScotRail management to come back to the table and commit to meaningful negotiations with us so that we can find a solution that works for passengers, and our members, alike.”
ScotRail's Service Delivery Director Mark Ilderton said all parties had worked hard to agree a pay deal that "recognises the hard work of staff, as well as providing value for money for the public finances".
He added: “We will provide an update for customers on the timetable as soon as possible.”
The temporary timetable has seen1,660 services operating daily from Monday to Saturday, compared with the usual level of around 2,250 - a cut of 26%.
The pay agreement comes just two days before the end of a ScotRail pilot scheme that scrapped peak-time train fares.
Transport Scotland said the project, which saw ticket prices subsidised by the Scottish government and standardised across the day, “did not achieve its aims” of persuading more people to swap car journeys for rail travel.
Passengers will be wondering when ScotRail will return to its normal timetable. The company moved to an emergency timetable with fewer services than usual in July because of the pay row.
Many drivers were not making themselves available for overtime and rest day working. It was linked to the pay row but was not industrial action by a union – drivers are perfectly entitled to turn down overtime.
ScotRail will be watching the situation closely over the coming days to get a sense of how many drivers are available for overtime.
It will then decide whether it can return to a normal timetable.
But if a full timetable is not in operation again soon, the company will face tough questions over its continuing dependence on overtime by drivers.
Union says full ScotRail timetable should return 'as soon as possible'
Ross Hunter
Wed 25 September 2024
A trade union has said it wants to see a full ScotRail timetable return as soon as possible (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
A TRADE union representing train drivers in Scotland has said they want to see ScotRail return to a full timetable "as soon as possible".
On Wednesday, the Aslef union announced that 74.89% of its members had voted to accept a fresh pay offer from ScotRail.
Unite and RMT had already voted to accept the offer.
ScotRail has been running a temporary reduced timetable since July due to staff shortages caused by the pay dispute, with fewer drivers making themselves available for overtime or to work on their rest days.
READ MORE: Train drivers vote to accept pay offer from ScotRail
However, Aslef Scotland said that now the dispute has been settled they want to see ScotRail reintroduce a fulltime "asap".
In a statement on X/Twitter, they said: "Today our members employed by @ScotRail voted 3-1 in favour of accepting the pay offer.
"We now look forward to @ScotRail & @scotgov getting a full timetable back up and running asap."
ScotRail were contacted for comment.
Ross Hunter
Wed 25 September 2024
A trade union has said it wants to see a full ScotRail timetable return as soon as possible (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
A TRADE union representing train drivers in Scotland has said they want to see ScotRail return to a full timetable "as soon as possible".
On Wednesday, the Aslef union announced that 74.89% of its members had voted to accept a fresh pay offer from ScotRail.
Unite and RMT had already voted to accept the offer.
ScotRail has been running a temporary reduced timetable since July due to staff shortages caused by the pay dispute, with fewer drivers making themselves available for overtime or to work on their rest days.
READ MORE: Train drivers vote to accept pay offer from ScotRail
However, Aslef Scotland said that now the dispute has been settled they want to see ScotRail reintroduce a fulltime "asap".
In a statement on X/Twitter, they said: "Today our members employed by @ScotRail voted 3-1 in favour of accepting the pay offer.
"We now look forward to @ScotRail & @scotgov getting a full timetable back up and running asap."
ScotRail were contacted for comment.
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