Want the top news headlines sent to your inbox daily? Sign up to our FREE newsletter below Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Rolling rail strikes have been called off after a "major breakthrough" in talks between Northern and RMT.

The rail union has been locked in a long-running, bitter dispute over the roll of guards on trains.

Staff have walked out a total of 47 times over the issue and more weekend strikes were planned for the next two Saturday's but they've now been suspended.

(Image: PA)

Northern operate several rail routes around the North East, including the Tyne Valley line to Carlisle and services to Teesside and Northumberland.

The dispute has resulted in major disruption for passengers over the last two years but now the union has said Northern have offered a guarantee of a conductor on all trains during talks at the conciliation service Acas.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "I want to pay tribute to RMT's members on Northern Rail whose resilience and determination through two years and 47 days of action has been the foundation on which today's major breakthrough has been based.

"I also want to thank the travelling public for their extraordinary support and both Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram (Manchester and Liverpool Mayors) for their efforts that have been important in allowing us to break the deadlock today.

"Today's offer of a guarantee of a conductor on all services throughout the duration of the franchise, including the new fleet, is the substantial progress we have been pushing for and has allowed RMT's executive to take the decision to suspend the current action and allow for further talks to now take place with all stakeholders around the operational details."

Managing director of Northern, David Brown, said: “We warmly welcome RMT’s decision to suspend its strike action and recommence talks about what the future role of the conductor looks like.

"We have been very clear in these discussions that there will be a conductor on all our trains now and into the future.

"We are looking forward to further positive talks with RMT about operational models moving ahead so that we can resolve their despite and bring it to an end.

"The suspension of the RMT strikes is good news for customers and businesses across the North."