British train drivers cancelled planned strike against First Great Western

British train drivers have called off a planned series of strikes against First Great Western after reaching an agreement about their work schedules, a union said Wednesday.

Drivers represented by the ASLEF union had threatened to stage 24-hour strikes on Monday and Oct. 11 and 19 to support demands for a four-day week.

The company had agreed to introduce an average of 14 rest days every eight weeks beginning in December, ASLEF said. The deal will be put to the union's 900 members at the company for approval.

Currently, the drivers' work week varies widely, although rules specify that they must have at least one day off a week.

The actions would have affected services between London Paddington station and Wales, Bristol and other points west.

T.E.