Government to put offer on table on rail strike

On Friday, he said the government would put an offer on the table after a meeting with Rail Minister Huw Merriman, he said that it had been a constructive and open discussion about the challenges facing our railways. "It was clear that the parties should work towards creating a modern and financially sustainable railway that provides value for all passengers and taxpayers," he said.

On Thursday, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said he was trying to get a deal between employers and trade unions on reforming the rail industry and bringing an end to the strikes.

A number of unions have announced strikes and other forms of industrial action across the rail network in December, which could cause severe disruption in the run up to Christmas.

The RMT union is planning industrial action over four 48 hour periods on 13 -- 14 and 16 -- 17 December, and 3 -- 4 and 6 -- 7 January, which will hit Network Rail and 14 train operators. Between December 18 and January, RMT members will operate an overtime ban.

The Unite union said on Friday that its members employed by Network Rail in electric control rooms would join the strikes, adding that they had not received a pay increase for three years.

It is totally unforgivable that the government thinks it is acceptable to implement a three-year pay freeze on members who play a critical role in keeping the rail network operating, said Sharon Graham, General Secretary of Unite.

Our members' action could inconvenience travellers who plan to visit their relatives over the festive period, but our members have been put in this situation by a government that won't listen to its own workforce, said Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of the PCS.