BOLTON’S rail network will no longer come to a standstill next week after rail unions called off plans for a national strike over the bank holiday.

Both the RMT and TSSA unions — which represent rail workers — were due to walk out on strike for 24 hours from 5pm on Monday because of a pay row with Network Rail.

The union had predicted that if the action had gone ahead, rail networks in Bolton and across the country would have been at a “standstill” by Tuesday morning.

But both unions have now decided to suspend any industrial action after receiving a “revised offer” from Network Rail.

The agreement comes after four days of talks between the three parties.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “After four days of talks at conciliation service Acas between the union and Network Rail management, the company has tabled a revised offer.

“The Executive Committee has considered this offer and decided to suspend all industrial action which had been scheduled to take place on Monday May 25 and Tuesday May 26.

The news will come as a relief to Bolton’s weary commuters who are already having to contend with major disruption to services in the area because of ongoing work to at the Farnworth Tunnels site.

The scheme has led to severely reduced services and full closures of Bolton Train Station at weekends which are set to continue until October.

Bolton Council’s cabinet member for Transport, David Chadwick, said he was “glad” that the parties had reached an agreement.

He added: “My main concern was that the action would heap more misery on Bolton rail passengers who are already suffering.

“I am glad that the three parties have reached an acceptable settlement which means we can get on with running services for the public.”