THE union representing thousands of rail workers wants extra payments for its members who will be on duty during next year's Commonwealth Games.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union called on rail companies and Network Rail to agree "recognition and reward" payments for workers.

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

It comes as thousands of Glasgow council workers ask for more than £3 million in compensation after losing their annual leave during the Games in Glasgow.

Talks are already under way between unions and the city council over which categories of staff will be prevented from taking holidays in the summer, with the 12-day event due to begin on July 23. RMT officials said they would be seeking flat-rate increases for rail workers in Scotland and on companies whose services cross the Border with England.

General secretary Bob Crow said: "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 those staff involved in delivering the increased transport demands."

RMT also said the train companies would see a boost in profits from extra passengers attending the Games, claiming workers and "not just shareholders" should be financially rewarded.

It said it was much too early to be discussing the prospect of industrial action, with talks only about to begin. A spokesman for ScotRail, which has around 1000 RMT workers, said: "As planned, we will discuss these proposals with the RMT as part of our ­regular programme of meetings with them and other trade union partners."

Transport Scotland said details of its rail plan are due to be released early next year

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "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."

During the Olympics, bonus deals ranging between £500 and £900 were agreed for staff at Heathrow Express, Network Rail, Docklands Light Railway, Transport for London bus drivers, London Overground and London Underground.