Train drivers will earn an annual base salary of more than $92,000 plus penalties from January, rising 17 per cent by mid-2019, under a four-year pay deal that Metro staff will formally vote on from Saturday.

Seventy-nine Metro staff who are Rail, Tram and Bus Union delegates will also be entitled to five days annual "union leave" if the deal is voted in.

Metro staff are set to vote on a new enterprise agreement. Credit:Penny Stephens

In exchange, Metro will agree to break Melbourne's rail network into three groups, and cut the length of time it takes to become a fully qualified train driver from 73 weeks to between 41 and 50 weeks.

The deal falls a long way short of what Metro fought for during hostile negotiations earlier this year. The company wanted to divide the rail network and its 1000 train drivers into six sectors, moving Melbourne towards a simpler, Hong Kong-style metro rail system.