Union leaders are to seek extra payments for thousands of rail workers who will be on duty over next year's Commonwealth Games.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union called on rail companies and Network Rail to agree "recognition and reward" payments for workers delivering services in the run-up and during next summer's event in Glasgow.

The union said it will be looking for similar deals to ones it struck for last year's Olympic Games in London, when workers were paid hundreds of pounds in extra bonuses.

RMT officials said they would be seeking flat-rate rises for all grades of rail workers in Scotland and on companies whose services cross the border with England.

General secretary Bob Crow said: "With the countdown now well and truly on for the 2014 Commonwealth Games it is important that we reach early agreements for all those transport staff, across all grades, who will carry the additional workload that will be generated both in the run-up to and during the events.

"There will once again be a huge transport challenge and RMT is seeking fair and adequate financial compensation across the board, on a flat-rate basis, for all of those staff involved in delivering the increased transport demands."

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "During the Year of Homecoming 2014, Scotland will be propelled to a truly international audience. With less than a year to go, it is only right we take steps now to offer a worthy welcome to our visitors, including an attractive transport network with sufficient capacity.

"ScotRail is currently working up the rail plan that will inform the Commonwealth Games, the details of which will be finalised in early 2014. The rail plan will ensure that the capacity accommodates the potential forecast spectator demand as much as possible whilst minimising impact on regular customers.

"Transport Scotland are working with ScotRail and Glasgow 2014 to understand any potential funding shortfall that may arise from the provision of additional service or extra carriages during the games fortnight."