Commuters were set to face major disruption to journeys on Thursday 30 March and Saturday 1 April 2023 as staff from 14 train companies were due to walk out.

The strike action by these RMT members over working arrangements, pay and pension concerns has now been called off.

The RMT said further talks between the union and the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) had seen a proposal tabled “which could lead to a resolution to resolve the current national rail dispute through a new offer”.

However, the statement added: “RMT will have further talks with the RDG with a view to securing a new offer on pay, job security and working conditions.

“The dispute remains on and the union will continue to make preparations for a re-ballot when the current mandates runs out in mid-May.”

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.”

Related: Your right to a refund if travel is affected by train strikes