Queensland Rail train crew will receive an annual three per cent pay rise for four years under an in-principle agreement.
The deal is still subject to an employee vote, expected to take place in late January, along with final approval by the Fair Work Commission.
"Queensland Rail is pleased to have reached this agreement and extends its thanks to train crew and all its other staff for their hard work in recent months," a QR spokeswoman said.
The development comes after QR faced months of heavy criticism over its performance in the face of a staffing shortfall.
The problems began in October, when a driver and train shortage led to mass service cancellations and commuter chaos.
In early December, a $300,000 refund was ordered for passengers impacted by a morning of delays caused by power outages, storm damage and a welding failure.
More than 320 Christmas Day services were also scrapped due to a rostering bungle, prompting Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to order a "comprehensive report".
QR handed him a document of two pages and the minister has since demanded more detail.
A spokesman for Mr Hinchliffe on Monday said the in-principle agreement was a matter for QR and its board.
"The minister has spoken on a number of occasions about the need for Queensland Rail to develop more flexible working arrangements to help build resilience and flexibility into driver rosters," he said .
Acting opposition leader Deb Frecklington again criticised Mr Hinchliffe's performance.
"When we look at the proposed pay increase for train drivers, surely we would be looking at the performance of the trains over the last three months," she said.
