Rail strikes scheduled for the Midlands over the festive period are set to be called off today.

Two one-day strikes were due to be held on December 27 and January 2 but a deal was brokered last night following marathon talks between Central Trains and the RMT union.

The deal is subject to approval by the RMT's executive committee.

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A Central Trains spokesman said: "Talks have taken place today between Central Trains and the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers' union who reached an agreement to avoid the two one-day strikes to be called on Tuesday, December 27 and Sunday, January 2.

"The talks proved to be positively structured and the union representatives will now go away and recommend that the two one-day strikes should be called off."

Earlier this week, the RMT, which represents train conductors, announced its 500 members at Central Trains were preparing to go on strike over the lack of extra pay for working on "substitute bank holidays".

Conductors are looking for extra payments for working on those days because the entire network shuts down on the official bank holidays. The same row erupted last Christmas, when a string of strikes drastically hit services.

It is understood Central Trains has offered two days in lieu to staff working either of the affected shifts. Previously an offer of one lieu day had been made.

The strike threats follow the unofficial withdrawal of goodwill among Central's drivers last Sunday when only a third volunteered to work, which resulted in the entire West Midlands timetable being cancelled for 24 hours.

The drivers union Aslef blamed the uncertainty hanging over staff, because of the impending break-up of the Central franchise, for only 50 drivers volunteering instead of the 150 drivers required to run Sunday services. ..SUPL: