EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS has promised to protect pension benefits for employees and called on drivers' union Aslef to work with the company to resolve the dispute, as passengers faced the last of six days of industrial action affecting the EMT network.

EMT said that from July, employees who are members of the final salary pension scheme will be entitled to the same benefits and save £500 a year in contributions following recommendations by independent experts. It said that the scheme trustees have agreed that extra contributions by the company and employees, which were put in place to clear a previous deficit, are no longer required now the scheme is in good health.

Aslef has criticised the changes as 'cheapening' the plan and its benefits, and the RMT has now started a ballot for industrial action in support.

East Midlands Trains said it was working on returning services to normal and called on Aslef to move on and help resolve the dispute. The company also revealed that Aslef and the RMT had already accepted similar pensions arrangements at two other train companies without industrial action.

EMT managing director David Horne said: “It’s good news for our passengers that no further unnecessary strike action has been announced by Aslef. Now is the time to sit down and resolve this issue for the benefit of everyone."