THE rail strike planned over the Bank Holiday, which would have crippled services and led to widespread travel chaos, has been called off after Network Rail tabled a new pay offer.

Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association were due to walk out for 24 hours from 5pm on Monday and suspended the action after receiving a new pay offer from Network Rail.

Then, just before 2.45pm, it was announced that Rail, Maritime and Transport members would be suspending their strike action too.

Network Rail tweeted: "#IndustrialAction The national rail strike has been called off."

The unions announced that the action was being suspended following the new offer, made during four days of talks at the conciliation service Acas.

Wiltshire Times:

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Following the Acas talks, RMT has received a revised offer that enables us to suspend the planned industrial action while we consult in full with our Network Rail representatives."

Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA, said: "Our negotiating team at Acas has received a revised offer from Network Rail.

"As a result of this, they have suspended the planned industrial action, pending the outcome of a meeting of our workplace representatives next week."

Lawyers for Network Rail halted plans to take legal action against the TSSA in the light of developments.

Bruce Carr QC, for Network Rail, told a judge at a High Court hearing in London that Network Rail was not proceeding with an application for an injunction.

He told Mr Justice Jay: "There has been progress."

The breakthrough came as workers, businesses and rail passengers were urged to prepare for the expected travel chaos if the strike by thousands goes ahead.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "I am very pleased that the unions have made a decision to suspend their planned action.

"Passengers right across the country will welcome this news and the knowledge that the extensive disruption threatening the Bank Holiday and the return to work on Tuesday has been averted.

"The Government has been working closely with transport operators, Highways England and local government on preparations to help manage the impact a national rail strike would have had on the network. We all welcome this news."

And a First Great Western spokesman said: "We welcome the agreement reached between Network Rail and the RMT and TSSA unions.

"This will come as a huge relief to millions of our customers choosing to travel over the Bank Holiday weekend and to the communities that we serve. We expect to run services as normal."