A breakthrough in talks came too late to prevent major disruption across the network today and on Monday (Picture: PA)
Passengers have been warned rail services will be crippled today despite planned strikes being called off.
Unions announced yesterday that walk-outs on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday have been suspended at the last minute.
RMT bosses said there has been significant progress in negotiations with Network Rail and operators, with an offer of ‘unconditional’ talks on the table.
Intensive negotiations are due to get under way and industrial action is on hold for now, raising hopes that the end of a dispute which has disrupted services for months may be in sight.
Despite the breakthrough, train firms are warning customers not to expect anything like a normal service today.
Network Rail said the announcement had come too late to leave enough time to get operations fully up and running, meaning severely reduced timetables which leave some areas without any rail access at all are still in force today.
Tim Shoveller, the organisations chief negotiator, admitted services will remain ‘extremely limited’ throughout Saturday.
Special strike timetables will also remain largely in place for Monday but operators hope that things will return to normal after that.
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said: ‘Our advice remains to please check before you travel and on Saturday and Monday only travel by rail if necessary.’
Saturday and Monday will still see widespread disruption for passengers (Picture: LNP)
Mick Lynch, the RMT’s general secretary, said the ‘strongly supported’ strike campaign waged since the summer ‘has made the rail employers see sense’.
He claimed Network Rail had ‘rowed back’ on its position of only going into talks with ‘pre-conditions unilaterally set down by the company’.
He added: ‘We have always wanted to secure a negotiated settlement and that is what we will continue to push for in this next phase of intensive talks.
‘Our priority is our members, and we are working towards securing a deal on job security, a decent pay rise and good working conditions.
‘Our re-ballot remains live and if we have to take strike action during the next six months to secure a deal, we will.’
The smaller TSSA union has also announced it is calling off its planned rail strikes on November 5, 7, 8 and 9 after receiving an invitation to ‘intensive talks’ from the Rail Delivery Group.
RMT boss Mick Lynch has welcomed the offer of ‘intensive’ talks, raising hopes the end of the dispute could be in sight (Picture: Getty)
TSSA members were due to take strike action in five different rail companies on different days over the period.
Transport secretary Mark Harper said: ‘This is a positive development for passengers up and down the country but the very late notice means, unfortunately, there will still be significant disruption across the network tomorrow and into Monday.
‘We encourage unions and employers to continue their negotiations and calling off these strikes has given those talks a better chance of success.
‘It is vital, for passengers and workers alike, that all parties continue to work together and deliver a modern railway we can all be proud of.’
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The RMT has cancelled three upcoming walk-outs but rails firms say the network will still be crippled.
