The RMT Union has announced that planned rail strikes for the 30th March and 1st April have been suspended.

The suspension of the rail strikes comes after further discussions between the union and the Rail Delivery Group.

These suspended strikes were part of the ongoing rail dispute over pay and conditions.

This news comes quickly after Network Rail employees voted to accept their pay deal.

An RMT spokesperson said “Following further discussions between RMT and the Rail Delivery Group earlier today, industrial action scheduled for 30th March and 1st April has been suspended”.

A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: “We welcome this positive step by the leadership of the RMT to call off their planned action on 30 March and 1 April. This is great news for our customers and for our staff.

“We are now jointly focused on working constructively towards a settlement to this dispute, which will mean we can do what we have always wanted to do – give our people a pay rise and help secure the long-term future of the railway with rewarding careers for all those who work on it.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “This marks a positive step and takes us closer to resolving this dispute.

“After Network Rail employees overwhelmingly voted to accept a similar pay offer earlier this week, we’re once again asking the RMT executive to do the right thing and put this fair and reasonable offer to its members, giving them the pay rise they deserve and helping us end this dispute.”

More to follow