Second rail strike averted

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Thousand of travellers will be spared a further day of misery after signallers and rail chiefs made progress following hours of negotiations.

A first 24-hour strike by the signal workers, which forced the cancellation of hundreds of journeys across the country, only came to an end at 12pm on Wednesday.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and Network Rail were locked in negotiations for more than eight hours in Glasgow on Wednesday.

The dispute centres on staff rotas and the issues of safety assessments and transfers are also being fought over.

An RMT spokesman said the action "has been suspended by the RMT executive after progress was made in talks with Network Rail".

He added the union's executive will consider a full report and make a further statement later in the week, which would disclose more details about the progress made in Wednesday's talks.

Around 450 signallers had been due to stage the second 24-hour walkout from noon on Thursday. If it had gone ahead Scotland's network would have been disrupted over four days this week.

The RMT claimed Network Rail wants to make changes to rostered hours and the union is also angry about the issue of transfers.

Network Rail disputes the accusation about rosters and says it has no intention of changing the established principle that rostered hours are binding. It also claimed the union wants to make safety assessments voluntary, an accusation branded "bogus" by the union.