Last minute peace talks have averted several days of RMT strikes on London Underground this week. The union suspended its action on 1 November, hours before the first 24-hour stoppage. This only involved engineering staff but more widespread walkouts had been set to follow, and very few Underground trains would have run from tomorrow until Saturday.

Chiltern Railways services would also have been cancelled between London and Great Missenden, because they use tracks controlled by the Underground between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham. The last minute suspension came too late for Chiltern to amend its strike day timetables for tomorrow and Wednesday, but the normal timetable is being restored from Thursday.

After Friday’s talks the RMT said: ‘Following intense negotiations with London Underground management and a significantly improved offer, we have suspended the strikes scheduled to start this evening.

‘London Underground have sensibly abandoned their proposed changes to pay structures which now means all our members will receive the same value in any pay award.

‘Further discussions will take place next week regarding the pay offer but progress has been made which would not have been possible without the fortitude and industrial strength of our 10,000 members on London Underground.’

No further details have been published about the improved offer.

ASLEF members are still set to walk out on 7 and 12 November, when few Underground services are expected to run.

ASLEF organiser Finn Brennan said: ‘We don’t want to go on strike – we don’t want to make travelling in and around the capital more difficult for passengers and we don’t want to lose a day’s pay – but we have been forced into this position because management won’t sit down properly and negotiate with us.’

Transport for London’s chief operating officer Claire Mann said: ‘We are pleased that the RMT has suspended its planned industrial action on the London Underground network to allow further talks. We believe that our offer is fair, affordable, good for our colleagues and good news for London.

‘We will continue to work closely with all our trade unions, and urge ASLEF to also call off its planned action. If it goes ahead, customers should check before they travel as during their strikes there will be little-to-no service.’