Discussions between the train drivers’ union and ScotRail to settle a pay dispute and restore services have been adjourned to later this week, the union said.
Talks restarted on Monday, but within hours Aslef issued a statement saying they had been delayed.
In recent weeks drivers have refused to work on their rest days, causing disruption and the issuing of a temporary timetable that cut more than 700 services across the network.
“Talks have been adjourned until later in the week, no further comment will be made until the talks are concluded,” said the union’s Scottish organiser Kevin Lindsay.
No reason has been given for the adjournment, but ScotRail’s service delivery director David Simpson said the talks were “constructive”, adding that: “It’s positive that Aslef have recognised that the negotiations need compromise and have been willing to explore further the significantly improved offer that has been made.
“We’re hopeful we can resolve the current dispute and work together to encourage people back to the railway.”
A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland refused to be drawn on the adjournment, saying: “We welcome the continuation of pay talks between Aslef and ScotRail - it would be inappropriate to comment further until they are complete.”
The new timetable resulted in the frequency of trains being cut and the times of last trains being brought forward.
Aslef’s executive committee last week rejected a 4.2% pay increase and urged the continuation of talks, while warning of a ballot on strike action if discussions were halted.
Last week, Lindsay said he believed a deal was “close”, adding: “If we get an improved offer, and (an) acceptable offer, there will be no strike action. It’s as simple as that.
“The ball is clearly in ScotRail’s court now, they can come up with an improved offer using the money that is already there in this package.”
Meanwhile, the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) has demanded an inquiry into reports that the newly-nationalised ScotRail was still paying its former operating company to run some support services.
The union called for the independent inquiry after it was suggested Dutch transport firm Abellio will be running some services for the next three years - a move the union said would see the company earn millions.
TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: “Three months since the end of their contract, failed franchiser Abellio are still making money from Scottish taxpayers; this is a disgrace.”
In December 2019 it was announced Abellio would be stripped of its contract to run ScotRail and earlier this year the service entered public ownership.
However, the union said services including a customer helpline, parts of ScotRail’s payroll department, rail replacement buses and taxis, and the management of station tenancies, are still being run by the former operator.
Cortes said: “The Scottish Government have had more than two years to ensure that all Abellio’s contracts were ended at the same time.
“It is astonishing that a company that served Scottish passengers so badly are allowed to keep raking in the cash from the public purse.
“I am demanding that an independent inquiry be set up into how Abellio have continued to.”
A Scottish Government spokesman promised an update to Parliament shortly. “However, it should be noted that just four of nearly 200 contracts were carried over by Abellio, as they were critical to maintain ScotRail services from day one of services being handed over to public ownership.
“Three out of four of those contracts have break points in the first year to allow other competitive alternatives to be identified.
“The fourth contract, crucially, secures the jobs of workers at the ScotRail Services Centre in Glasgow.”
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