LONG suffering train passengers in Bolton are hoping a pay dispute which has caused chaos since the summer will end next week.

Hopes of settling the dispute between drivers and First North Western have risen after staff were given a new offer.

The firm said it was optimistic that the dispute could come to an end and that planned strikes over the weekends of December 14-15 and 21-22 would not go ahead.

Representatives of the train drivers' union Aslef will meet on Monday to discuss the new offer, which involves pay and conditions of service.

Vernon Barker, FNW's managing director said today: "We have done everything in our power to reach an agreement. We hope that Aslef will withdraw the threat of strike action for the sake of our passengers."

The company announced that from Monday it would reinstate around a third of services that it withdrew in the autumn because of a refusal by train drivers to work their rest days.

More than 30 new drivers have completed their training in the last 12 weeks and as they take up their posts the need for rest day working reduces "significantly", said the company.

Mr Barker said: "We are delighted to be able to run these trains again."

Danny Langley, a-30-year-old disgruntled rail passenger from Great Lever Street, welcomed the news. He said: "If the strikes do stop and the service does return to some level of normality, then it is good news for everyone concerned."

Around 50 services will be reinstated to the timetable.

For current travel information, or to see which services have been reinstated, passengers should contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50, First North Western Customer Relations on 0845 600 1159 or visit the website at www.firstnorthwestern.co.uk

Passengers in Bolton have frequently complained that many of the services left on the timetable have arrived very late or have been cancelled at the last minute.

Train drivers claimed this was because there was no overtime agreement in place.