Weekend strikes are off but emergency timetables continue

Aslef members had voted to strike on three Saturdays after two Cambridge-based drivers were suspended over safety issues.

The action was suspended for talks, but a deal has been reached with the pair taking on new non-driving roles.

The move does not affect ongoing emergency timetables caused by a separate row about overtime working.

'Normal relations'

Walk-outs were threatened on three Saturdays after the drivers were demoted for failing to stop at a station and going through a red signal.

The company said it would not allow them to drive again.

Mick Whelan, from Aslef, said: "We are very pleased with the resolution in relation to our two colleagues at Cambridge.

"We hope now we can get back into normal relations with the company and do what we do best - helping them to run trains."

Central Trains operate local services across the Midlands and into South Wales, the North West, East Anglia and Yorkshire.

An unrelated dispute means an emergency timetable has been running since 1 January after the union withdrew its agreement with Central Trains on overtime.

This saw a 10% cut in train services, with some trains indefinitely replaced by buses in some areas, mainly Staffordshire and Lincolnshire.

Ged Burgess, for Central Trains said: "We are expecting some news on the other action, but there is nothing we can say at this stage."