THE RMT welcomed a new offer to restart talks with train operators today and potentially end their 18-month pay and conditions dispute.

The union and the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) announced that they had developed a memorandum of understanding setting out a process for resolving the dispute.

RMT is pressing for a backdated 2022 pay rise for staff and job security guarantees, among other demands.

General secretary Mick Lynch said: “This is a welcome development and our members will now decide in an e-referendum whether they want to accept this new offer from the RDG.”

Union members at each of the 14 train-operating companies involved are to be balloted by November 30 on whether to accept the offer. 

If they do, the national dispute mandate will end, creating a pause in industrial action over the Christmas period and into next spring.

Negotiations on proposed reforms would, meanwhile, be carried out through collective bargaining structures at local train-operating companies.

The joint statement by RMT and the RDG said: “These discussions would be aimed at addressing the companies’ proposals on the changing needs and expectations of passengers, as well as unlocking further increases for staff, in order to help to secure a sustainable, long-term future for the railway and all those who work on it.”

The announcement came shortly after Mr Lynch pledged to continue a long-running campaign over pay and conditions on the railways, accusing the government of failing on rail reform while pressing ahead with widely condemned plans to enforce minimum levels of service during strikes.

Ministers announced this week that 40 per cent of services would have to run on strike days.