Does the strike deal mean there's light at the end of the tunnel for passengers?

Difficult though it may be to believe, industrial peace is about to descend on Britain’s railways. The government and the leaders of the train drivers’ union, Aslef, have agreed a “no strings” pay rise of 15 per cent, and the union’s members are expected to vote to accept it.

- SEAN O'GRADY

It is not quite as generous as it sounds. The offer comprises a rise of 5 per cent for 2022-2023, 4.75 per cent for 2023-2024, and 4.5 per cent for 2024-2025, which would not match inflation. The pay will be backdated and pensionable, but it’s fair to add that train drivers have not received a pay increase for five years. The deal would see the average salary of a train driver, without overtime, rising from £60,000 to £69,000.

Who’s paying for this?

It’s not entirely clear, given that there are 16 separate train operating companies – and all are heading, eventually, for nationalisation – but it will no doubt mean higher fares than would otherwise be the case for travellers, and, one way or another, some funding from the taxpayer, and possibly from the remaining private shareholders of some train operators.

Has the government caved in?

The total absence of any plan to end restrictive practices and improve productivity on the railways does rather suggest that. Tories have lined up to accuse the transport secretary, Louise Haigh, of giving in to her “union paymasters” as a reward for the handsome financial support Aslef gave to Labour’s election campaign.

Indeed, Haigh went straight in to set up pay talks directly with Aslef, bypassing the remaining private train operators (many routes having fallen into public ownership already).