Deutsche Bahn says no new wage offer for drivers

BERLIN, Nov 7 (Reuters) German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said it would not make a further wage offer to train drivers involved in a dispute that has prompted a series of strikes which caused travel problems for millions.

The German train drivers' union GDL has said it would stage strikes on freight services this week if Deutsche Bahn does not improve on its offer of a 10 percent pay rise and a one-off payment of 2,000 euros (2,909 dollar).

''There will be no new offer,'' Margret Suckale, head of Deutsche Bahn's personnel, told a news conference yesterday.

A German court on Friday gave the GDL permission to extend strikes to long-haul and freight routes, overturning a prior ruling and setting the stage for more walkouts.

The GDL, representing 34,000 train drivers, has demanded up to 31 per cent more pay and rejected a deal in July for the railways' other 195,000 workers for a 4.5 per cent pay rise.

REUTERS RC RN0905