Train drivers have accepted a pay deal that can see the end of greater than two years of strike motion in England, Scotland and Wales.

Aslef union members accepted a suggestion which included a 5% backdated pay rise for 2022-23, a 4.75% rise for 23-24, and a 4.5% enhance for 24-25.

The package deal had been agreed by union officers and the federal government in August, however required the backing of members in a vote.

Industrial motion has brought about widespread disruption on the railways since strikes started in July 2022.

The breakthrough heralds the end of business motion with 16 practice working firms, which noticed drivers stage 18 strikes and participate in a number of additional time bans, main to cancelled companies.

Some strikes brought about an virtually full shutdown of railway strains in England and a few cross-border companies, together with throughout main sporting and public occasions.

Aslef, which claims to symbolize greater than 21,000 practice drivers, mentioned 96.6% of its membership who voted backed the deal. The turnout was 84%.

The authorities has refused to launch a determine of what the common wage of a practice driver will likely be following the pay rises. In 2023, the common wage was £60,055 per 12 months, in accordance to the Rail Delivery Group, which represents practice firms.

Based on the pay will increase introduced by the union, the BBC has calculated a median wage is estimated to be about £69,000 in 2024/25.

The union mentioned that when compounded, the provide works out at 15%, is backdated, pensionable and contains drivers who retired or left the business throughout the dispute.

Mick Whelan, the union’s normal secretary, mentioned the vote marked the end of the longest practice drivers’ strike in historical past.

“It was not a struggle we sought, or needed. All we wanted 5 years and not using a pay rise, working for personal firms who, all through that interval, declared hundreds of thousands of kilos in earnings and dividends to shareholders, was a dent in the price of residing,” he mentioned.

Under the brand new Labour authorities, senior officers started direct pay talks with Aslef bosses in July.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh mentioned the end of the dispute was “an necessary step in direction of fixing our railways and getting the nation transferring once more”.

Ms Haigh mentioned fixing the row would additionally guarantee a extra dependable service however added the deal “crucially” cleared the way in which for “very important reform – together with modernising outdated working practices – to guarantee a greater performing railway for everybody”.

However, Aslef mentioned the pay rise was a “no-strings provide”, with Mr Whelan suggesting the deal was agreed “and not using a land seize for our phrases and circumstances”.

A significant stumbling block which resulted in earlier talks breaking down was due to proposed adjustments to working circumstances.

Aslef rejected earlier offers, arguing drivers had been being requested to sacrifice an excessive amount of in trade for too low a wage rise.

But practice firms and the earlier Conservative authorities argued that adjustments to methods of working, for instance to driver coaching and rosters had been mandatory to make the railway perform extra reliably and lower your expenses.

They mentioned hard-pressed taxpayers had been having to contribute hundreds of thousands every week to maintain companies working.

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group mentioned it welcomed the information that the dispute had been resolved.

“The complete railway now wants to pull collectively and deal with delivering the very best service for our prospects,” they added.