The pay dispute between ScotRail and its train drivers could soon be over.
Aslef, the union representing drivers, yesterday agreed to a 5% pay deal with the recently-nationalised train operator.
It had previously rejected a 4.2% rise in a row which led ScotRail to introduce a much-reduced timetable when drivers refused to work on rest days.
Kevin Lindsay, Aslef's Scotland organiser, told the BBC the new deal represented a "breakthrough”.
"We are pleased that, today, significant progress has been made in our latest round of talks with ScotRail," he said.
"The offer on pay has been increased to 5% and we have received improved offers on pay for rest day working, Sunday working allowances, driving instructor allowances, maternity pay and an extension of no compulsory redundancies to five years.”
He added: “The full Aslef negotiating team is recommending acceptance of the offer to our members through a referendum subject to executive committee approval."
The agreed pay rise is made up of a 2.2% increase to recognise the cost of living challenges - funded by Transport Scotland - and a 2.8% rise funded by ScotRail to recognise the "flexibility of rostering arrangements" after the pandemic.
Basic pay for experienced drivers would increase by more than £2,600 - taking their salary to £55,264.
Other unions watching Aslef deal
However, the Telegraph says unions representing teachers, nurses, police and council workers are now likely to seize on the ScotRail deal to demand similar terms from the Scottish Government, with many of their members earning far less than train drivers.
GMB Scotland, which represents council workers, said that the Aslef agreement highlighted the "paltry" 2% pay rise offered to other public-sector staff was neither "credible nor acceptable".
David Simpson, ScotRail's service delivery director, said of yesterday’s developments in the pay row : "We've made a really good offer which recognises the cost-of-living challenges faced by families across the country and delivers good value for the public.
"The feedback we've had from many drivers is that they recognise we have made a series of very good offers and we are pleased they will get a say in a referendum.
"The railway plays a vital role in growing the economy and connecting communities. Now more than ever we all need to work together to attract more people to the railway as we recover from the impact of the pandemic."
Economist Tony Mackay has estimated that the Aslef dispute could have cost the Scottish economy between £75million and £80million every week from a combination of the fall in economic output and extra money having to be spent by travellers to get to their destinations.
More rail woe later this month
But there is more woe on the way for Scottish train users later this month.
Rail union RMT is to launch three days of national strike action across the railway network.
Tens of thousands of railway workers will walk out on June 21, 23 and 25 in the biggest dispute on the network since 1989.
The union stated the move was due to the inability of the rail employers to come to a negotiated settlement with it.
It added: "Network Rail and the train-operating companies have subjected their staff to multi-year pay freezes and plan to cut thousands of jobs which will make the railways unsafe."