NEW YORK, Dec. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Striking Transit Workers Union (TWU) had agreed to take steps to return its members back to work while continuing negotiations with the transit authority, a state mediator said here Thursday.

    However, no timetable was announced for the restoration of subway and bus service, which was halted Tuesday, affecting millions of riders.

    "Both parties have a genuine desire to resolve their differences, said Richard Curreri, head of a three-member state mediation panel. "They have agreed to resume negotiations while the TWU takes steps to return its membership to work," he said.

    The two sides returned to a Manhattan hotel around 1 a.m., the first time both sides were in the building since the strike began.

    The announcement came 56 hours after workers walked out at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, costing the city hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues over the first two days.

    No formal negotiations have been scheduled, but Currei said the executive board of the TWU is expected to vote on the issue of sending members back to work as talks resume. If the TWU votes in favor of ending the strike, it could take between 12 and 24 hours for the transit system to be fully up-and running.

    Curreri said that TWU leaders indicated it is difficult for them to accept the MTA's current pension proposal. At the same time, the MTA had informed him that it would not withdraw its pension proposals but is willing to discuss whether MTA savings could be shifted to health benefits. The MTA proposed pension requirement ended up being the deal breaker that eventually led to the strike.

    The contract covering 33,000 transit workers expired last week, and the union called the strike Tuesday morning despite a state law banning public employee strikes.

    Millions of New Yorkers braved another frigid commute Thursday morning, streaming into commuter rail hubs, hiking over bridges and pouring into cars and cabs. Some tried to hitch a ride.

    On Thursday, in the first serious injury since the strike began, an off-duty firefighter was critically injured when he was struck by a private bus while riding his bike to work.

    Groups of commuters huddled at designated areas to be picked up by company vans or buses or prearranged car pools. The scarves, hats and warm coats were back paired with running shoes or hiking boots.

    A judge had imposed a 1-million-dollar-per-day fine on the union for defying an order barring the strike, a punishment that would not take effect until appeals are complete.

    In an effort to put more pressure on the union, city lawyers Wednesday had asked the judge to issue another order directing union members to return to work under the threat of further fines.Enditem