Oct. 26 (Bloomberg) -- German train drivers will refrain from strikes through Oct. 29 as they await a new wage offer from state-owned railway operator Deutsche Bahn AG.

The GDL train drivers' union has set Deutsche Bahn an Oct. 29 deadline to present a new proposal, the union said in Frankfurt after engineers ended a 30-hour strike this morning.

The latest walkouts have crippled local and regional train traffic nationwide, with most strikes generally cutting service in half and bringing commuter train traffic in cities including Leipzig and Dresden to a complete halt. The GDL rejected Deutsche Bahn AG's most recent contract offer on Oct. 15, calling the proposed 10 percent raise and one-time payment of 2,000 euros ($2,860) insufficient.

``Deutsche Bahn now has to present an improved offer,'' Claus Weselsky, the union's deputy chairman, said.

Deutsche Bahn, which operates Europe's largest track network, has refused to meet the union's demands for a wage increase of as much as 31 percent. The Berlin-based railway wants train drivers to work two additional hours a week in order to receive the 10 percent raise.

A ruling by a court in Chemnitz, Germany, on Oct. 5 prevents the engineers from striking on long-distance and freight routes. The GDL and Deutsche Bahn have both appealed the labor court decision. The union wants the freedom to stage strikes affecting any service, while the railway seeks to block all walkouts. The appeals court will hold a hearing in the case Nov. 2.

To contact the reporters on this story: Jann Bettinga in Frankfurt at jbettinga@bloomberg.net; Chad Thomas in Berlin at cthomas16@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 26, 2007 05:57 EDT