The planned rail strike will go ahead on Friday despite renewed talks about pay and conditions with rail operator NS, union FNV has said.

The latest offer by the rail operator, which includes a 5% pay rise and a one off bonus but no assurances about inflation compensation ‘is a start’, the FNV said, and a reason to start up negotiations again.

The new offer came after a letter to the unions in which NS admitted it had not considered the consequences of staff shortages in time. ‘That meant uncertain timetables, no space for staff to take time off and high sickness levels,’ NS director Richard Greeve wrote.

The letter is an important sign that NS acknowledges that the pressure on NS workers is much too high,’ CNV negotiator Jerry Picqué told broadcaster NOS.

However, Friday’s 24-hour strike, in the north and north west of the country, has not been cancelled. NS has said no trains at all will run on that day because of ‘safety concerns’.

It is also planning to halt service on the other strike days which have been planned for September 13 and 15.

Some regional bus and train drivers are also striking on Thursday, in the south of the Netherlands, reports NOS.