RMT union says ‘suspension reflects our goodwill’ though Sunday strikes until June remain in place for now

Strikes by Avanti West Coast train staff scheduled for the next two Sundays have been suspended to allow for “intensive talks”, raising hopes that a run of planned disruption every weekend until June could be called off.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said that the next two dates in the series of Sunday strikes by onboard train managers would be called off in the hope of making “meaningful progress” in negotiations with the intercity rail operator.