The Rail Delivery Group has invited the RMT to fresh talks today, following the announcement that strikes at Network Rail had been suspended following a new pay offer.

The terms of the offer have now been published by the union.

Network Rail is offering a salary rise of between 14.4 per cent for the lowest paid grades to 9.2 per cent for the highest, plus an additional 1.1 per cent on basic earnings and increased back pay, which will be paid as a lump sum. It does not depend on any changes to working practices.

Meanwhile, the RDG invited the RMT to new talks today on condition that strikes at train operators next week are cancelled, but the union has declined to do this.

Last night, the RDG said: ‘We have invited the RMT leadership to meet tomorrow for further talks and have made clear we are always open to dialogue. However we have also made clear to that meaningful progress can only be made if they remove the threat of strikes hanging over our passengers before it is too late to avoid disruption. We urge the RMT leadership to engage with us in good faith and resolve this dispute.’

As things stand the RMT is still set to stage walkouts at 14 English train operators on 16, 18 and 30 March, and also on 1 April.