A Tory minister has admitted more money has been lost due to the impact of the rail strikes than the cost of settling the dispute months ago.
The Rail Minister Huw Merriman insisted the "overall impact" on all public sector pay must be considered - but the row has "ended up costing more".
Rail workers have been involved in a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions and last held 48-hour strikes in the first week of the New Year.
