The RMT has suspended a planned strike on CrossCountry this Saturday, after CrossCountry agreed to hold what the union described as ‘intensive talks’ in a new bid to resolve the dispute.

The union said CrossCountry had refused to recognise it at all grades within the company, ‘despite written evidence to the contrary’.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘With our members prepared to take strike action this weekend, CrossCountry management has seen the need to sit down with RMT to find a long-term resolution to this impasse.

‘We have agreed to suspend strike action and take up this opportunity.

‘But our strike mandate remains in place, so we will name new strike dates if that becomes necessary.’

Meanwhile, a further ASLEF walkout is planned on LNER on 20 April, with an overtime ban from 19 to 21 April, in a dispute over bargaining procedures. LNER said it had suspended bookings for 20 April while it assesses the likely effects of the strike on its services.