Extensive disruption to the rail network over the bank holiday and the return to work on Tuesday has been averted.

The Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has welcomed the news that the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) and Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) unions have suspended their strike action scheduled to begin on bank holiday Monday.

Patrick McLoughlin said: 'I am very pleased that the unions have made a decision to suspend their planned action.'

Passengers right across the country will welcome this news and the knowledge that the extensive disruption threatening the bank holiday and the return to work on Tuesday has been averted.

The government has been working closely with transport operators, Highways England and local government on preparations to help manage the impact a national rail strike would have had on the network. We all welcome this news.

Network Rail will now also be able to move ahead with its planned improvement works over the bank holiday weekend. The works costing in excess of £10 million are an essential part of the £38 billion investment Network Rail is delivering across the network between 2014 and 2019.

Source: GovUK