However, it doesn’t mean an end to rail chaos over the coming days and weeks, as other disputes with different companies and a different union are still ongoing.

Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) backed the deal by 85% in a ballot, and had already cancelled strikes relating to this dispute after receiving the pay offer.

But the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union remains in dispute with Network Rail (NR) after its members rejected an offer earlier this week.

Strikes by RMT union directly cover the Christmas period, including December 24 which is a hectic day for people travelling.

And TSSA members in dispute with different train operating companies over pay, jobs and conditions and will still be striking, tomorrow, Saturday and December 26, 27 and 28.

RMT rail strike dates

RMT members will be taking strike action on the following dates:

*  Friday, December 16, 2022
*  Saturday, December 17, 2022
*  Saturday, December 24, 2022 (Christmas Eve, from 6pm onwards)
*  Sunday, December 25, 2022 (Christmas Day)
*  Monday, December 26, 2022 (Boxing Day, until 6am Tuesday December 27)
*  Tuesday, January 3, 2023
*  Wednesday, January 4, 2023
*  Friday, January 6, 2023
*  Saturday, January 7, 2023

These are national rail strikes, meaning there will be little or no national rail services running across all rail companies nationwide.

TSSA organising director Luke Chester said: ‘This is a decisive result, with our members roundly endorsing this offer. It’s great news and a great deal for our members in Network Rail.

‘It just shows what can be done through negotiations when there’s a serious offer on the table.

‘Let me be clear though – this has only come about because our members stood together, taking strike action to get a fair settlement when the company had failed to listen.

‘Their dogged determination and some hard negotiations won this improved offer.

The TSSA deal

The TSSA said that in total, 85% of 2,500 union members voted yes on a 70% turnout on the offer from Network Rail. It is worth a minimum 9-11% consolidated pay increase over the next fortnight, in addition to other financial rewards, job security to 2025 and guarantees on terms and conditions. 

Result: 

Accept: 85%     

Reject: 15%  

Turnout: 70% 

The deal includes:

* A no compulsory redundancy agreement until 31 January 2025

* A minimum pay uplift of at least £1,750 or a 5% increase (whichever is greater) backdated to 1 January 2022 (an increase of over 5% for anyone earning less than £35,000). This is worth at least 7% to staff earning £25,000 or less. 

* A 4% pay increase from 1 January 2023 

* No unagreed changes to terms and conditions, plus more benefits. 

‘The result is a fair pay settlement amounting to at least a 9% increase for this year and next – at least 11% for those on lower salaries – plus job security and the nailing down of our terms and conditions.

‘This could and should have been done months ago, but we are pleased with the result.

‘However, the deal in Network Rail is significantly better than anything which has been proposed by the train operating companies and our fight goes on there, with members continuing to take industrial action.

‘If the rail companies and the Government have any sense, they will now stop blocking the perfectly reasonable pathway to a deal and come back to the table with an improved offer which meets our aspirations.’