RAIL services in Ely returned to normal this morning after unions agreed a new pay-deal late last night and suspended their action. A new pay offer believed to be in the region of a 3.5% inc

RAIL services in Ely returned to normal this morning after unions agreed a new pay-deal late last night and suspended their action.

A new pay offer believed to be in the region of a 3.5% increase over two years was put to both the RMT and ASLEF overnight, with both unions agreeing to suspend their planned strike action while the offer was put to members.

The TSSA has also confirmed suspension of their strike action.

Despite the suspension however, some delays are still expected on some services while alterations are made to normalise the schedule.

After holding early morning face-to-face talks at ASLEF headquarters with NXEA managing director Andrew Chivers, union general secretary Keith Norman said, 'We have hammered out an amicable time-table for the resolution of the industrial relations difficulties which have divided us. I also feel that we have secured reasonable pay increases given the general economic climate and the financial position of NXEA.

"All industrial action has been suspended while the latest offer from the company is put to the union's members in NXEA in a ballot.

Andrew Chivers, Managing Director, National Express East Anglia said “We’re pleased to be able to advise our customers that the industrial action by the ASLEF, RMT and TSSA unions has been suspended. We will endeavour to run the best service possible tomorrow, though there may be some residual delays and alterations to services as we restore the normal service. We would like to thank our customers for their patience during the industrial action.” The normal service will be restored during tomorrow morning, but there will be some alterations and disruption particularly to early trains."