Rail strike talks to take place

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The train operator said following "constructive" discussions, the Rail Maritime and Transport Union's (RMT) negotiation team recommended that plans for the two day walk-out are suspended.

The union has agreed to hold further meetings this week in a bid to resolve the dispute.

Guards had voted overwhelmingly on Thursday for the strike on January 20 and 21.

The RMT said it was after relations had broken down over issues including managers driving and guarding trains. But the rail company, which runs services from London's Paddington Station to the West Country, south-west of England and Wales, said "significant progress" had been made during talks which finished late on Friday.

Chief Operating Officer Andrew Haines said: "First Great Western has given the RMT negotiating team the commitment they were seeking, particularly in relation to managers working trains. As a result, further talks have been agreed for next week to discuss the other issues in dispute.

"The RMT Negotiating Team have recommended to their Executive Committee that the strike action planned for 20 to 21 January 2008 be suspended."

A FGW spokesman said: "We welcome this constructive move and we remain hopeful that continued discussions will help avert disruptive strike action."

The union had previously announced that it would ballot 1,500 station staff and other workers at FGW to see if they also want to take industrial action.

The train operator carries more than 60,000 passengers a day on local and long-distance services into London's Paddington station.