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Upcoming rail strikes will no longer go ahead, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced today.

Strikes were planned for Saturday, November 5, Monday, November 7 and Wednesday, November 9.

However, most Transport for Wales (TfW) services will remain suspended.

The RMT made the announcement on Friday afternoon, a day before strikes were set to go ahead.

RMT is in a dispute with Network Rail, not TfW. However, as Network Rail controls the signals along the Rhymney line, TfW services would be impacted by strike action.

A spokesperson for TfW said: “Those attending the Autumn International match (Wales v New Zealand) at the Principality Stadium on Saturday November, 5 should not travel in or out of Cardiff by train, despite the cancellation of strike action. 

“Due to the short notice given for the cancellation of the strikes, it’s not possible for services to be reinstated on Saturday, November 5.

“Most trains across the Wales and Borders network will remain suspended, with only the potential to run severely reduced services running east of Cardiff and to the Valleys lines.”

Network Rail has also said its services will be limited on Saturday due to the late notice.

Dispute “remains very much live”

RMT said it called off the industrial action following “intensive negotiations” with Network Rail and other train operating companies.

In a statement, RMT said: “Through a strong industrial campaign so far, RMT has secured unconditional talks on Network Rail and the promise of an offer from the train operating companies who up until this point, have made no offer of any kind to our members.”

However, RMT insisted the dispute “remains very much live” ahead of a re-ballot of members.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The threat of strike action and our strongly supported industrial campaign has made the rail employers see sense.

“We have always wanted to secure a negotiated settlement and that is what we will continue to push for in this next phase of intensive talks.

“Our priority is our members, and we are working towards securing a deal on job security, a decent pay rise and good working conditions. 

“Our re-ballot remains live and if we have to take strike action during the next 6 months to secure a deal, we will.”