A THREATENED rail strike has been called off only days before it was due to cause disruption on the East Coast mainline.
Talks between GNER and the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) over the safety role of guards ended in agreement yesterday.
The deal means nationwide one-day walk-outs for next Monday and July 4 will not now affect GNER services.
A deal was also struck yesterday with South West Trains.
Talks are expected to take place over the next 24 hours between the RMT and the other train operators, including Arriva, which has 600 guards and runs Northern Spirit, and Virgin Cross-Country, which has 257.
The RMT had called the strikes after members voted overwhelmingly for industrial action amid fears the safety role of guards was being downgraded.
Ernie Preston, secretary of the Rail Passengers' Committee North-East, said: "Passenger confidence seems to have returned with a vengeance over the last few weeks and the trains have been well patronised, so it is good this dispute has been settled."
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