Tube strike: bosses cave in

The decision came only 90 minutes after the RMT union had announced the stoppage was definitely on, following the breakdown of talks.

It reversed its decision after Metronet, which is charged with maintaining nine lines on the network, backed down.

London Underground chiefs were said to be furious with Metronet, accusing it of presiding over a "shambles". A senior industry source said: "It's a complete climbdown by Metronet. Bob Crow, the RMT leader, now knows he has the firm over a barrel for any future negotiations.

"The whole thing has been a complete mess from start to finish." Union leaders had ordered industrial action in protest at plans by Metronet to transfer 250 staff to one of the consortium's companies, Bombardier Transportation.

It said this was to fulfil its contracts and improve the Tube service, but the union argued the move was about "maximising profits".

When the RMT announced the strike was on, Metronet's board of directors met in crisis session and, it is understood, agreed to halt the transfer of staff.

LU had warned the strike between Sunday evening and Wednesday would have caused " significant disruption". The subsurface District, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith and City lines would have suffered most. The Central, Bakerloo and Victoria lines would also have been badly affected.

There was widespread condemnation of the RMT. Brian Cooke, chairman of passenger watchdog London TravelWatch, said: "This dispute could have been settled long ago by sensible negotiation. Instead commuters have been left not knowing until the very last minute whether they would have a Tube service next week.

"We still don't know the full details of exactly what happened today but the whole episode is a total disgrace."

A spokesman for the RMT confirmed the strike, which would have involved up to 2,000 maintenance workers, had been "suspended" after Metronet "withdrew plans" to transfer staff to its partner companies.

Paul Emberley, Metronet's chief spokesman, announced: "We have heard from the RMT union and the strike is definitely off."

The climbdown comes days after LU managing director Tim O'Toole unleashed his most damning criticism yet of the consortium, which has made profits of £1million a week. He attacked it for consistently failing to do its job properly.

The company was also condemned by Chris Bolt, arbiter of the public-private partnership under which Metronet operates, in his report in November.

Mr Bolt found that the consortium was "significantly behind" in delivering station improvements.

He concluded: "Work on both track maintenance and renewal has been below the standards that would be expected."