A temporary timetable that caused misery for passengers is set to end after ScotRail drivers agreed to a new pay deal.
Members of the ASLEF union today voted to accept an improved offer of five per cent after rejecting a lesser offer in May.
It means the temporary timetable that saw hundreds of ScotRail services slashed across the country should finally end next week - but only if drivers agree to work overtime shifts again.
ASLEF Scottish organiser Kevin Lindsay, said: "Following a ballot on the improved offer negotiated with ScotRail, ASLEF members have voted to accept the proposals on pay and conditions.
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"Hopefully this gives ScotRail the opportunity to get the service back up and running."
ScotRail said it would now work with the drivers' union to reintroduce a full timetable "as soon as possible".
But franchise bosses warned this would be "a complex process" as it depended upon drivers agreeing to work overtime.
And any resumption of services are likely to come too late for the thousands of fans heading to St Andrews for the Open golf tournament this week.
ScotRail, which operates the vast majority of passenger services north of the Border, was taken back under public control in April.
But a row over pay saw drivers impose an overtime ban in May - with transport bosses cutting hundreds of services as a result.
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: "I am delighted that ASLEF members have voted for this pay deal.
"All parties involved have worked hard to find an agreement that recognises the hard work of staff and the financial challenges faced by the railway as we look to recover from the pandemic.
"ScotRail, our staff, and our customers want to have a reliable, efficient, and sustainable railway that supports the economy and connects communities across the country.
"This deal is a significant step towards delivering that."
Scottish Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain said: "This announcement means that tourists and commuters can breathe a sigh of relief after weeks of cancellations.
"However it may have come too late in the day for those travelling to The Open in St Andrews. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected in my constituency this week but there is still no guarantee that they will be able to rely on the rail network to get there.
"The Transport Secretary needs to set out what will be done to prevent visitors to the home of golf getting stranded this week. We need to see a comprehensive timetable of when services will be up and running again so that no one finds themselves waiting on a train which will never come.
"So many commuters have had their plans thrown up in the air by weeks of cancellations. The government should refund a proportion of season ticket prices to reflect that so many services are cancelled."
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