Signal workers and maintenance staff of the RMT Union have voted in favour of accepting a new pay offer from Network Rail, but strikes will continue to go ahead in Ealing. 

In a major step forward in the ongoing disputes between rail workers and Network Rail, 76% of signal workers and maintenance staff of the RMT Union out of a turnout of 90% have voted to accept a pay offer. 

This means that they will now not be a part of upcoming walkouts, but other staff from Great Western Railway and 13 other train providers will still be on strike on from Thursday 30th March and Saturday 1st April. 

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Strike action and the inspiring solidarity and determination of members has secured new money and a new offer which has been clearly accepted by our members and that dispute is now over. 

"Our dispute with the Train Operating Companies remains firmly on and our members recent highly effective strike action across the fourteen train companies has shown their determination to secure a better deal.  

"If the government now allows the train companies to make the right offer, we can then put that to our members but until then the strike action scheduled for March 30 and April 1 will take place.  

"The ball is in the government's court." 

The new deal offers a 14.4% pay raise for the lowest pay grades and 9.2% for the highest; increased backpay; renewing of the no compulsory redundancy agreement until January 2025; Network Rail withdrawing their previous insistence the offer was conditional on RMT accepting the company 'modernising maintenance' agenda; and discounted trail travel benefits. 

Great Western Railway said in a statement on the forthcoming strike action: "The RMT trades union has announced two 24-hour strikes on 30 March and 1 April.

"During the strike periods, a revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR. Some parts of the rail network will have no service at all; where trains are able to run, services will start later and finish earlier.

"We are working hard to operate as many trains as we can, and online journey planners will be updated with the latest timetable information as soon as possible.

"Customers who have already purchased tickets for strike days can claim a full refund or amend their ticket; those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to Delay Repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 minutes or more."