Planned strike action on South Western Railway (SWR) have been suspended, RMT union announced today (Monday).

Three planned strikes by workers have been halted after a "significant breakthrough" in the bitter dispute over the role of guards on trains.

RMT says the rail provider has now agreed guards will remain on their services.

An RMT spokesman said: "Substantial progress in talks with the company has allowed the union’s executive to suspend the on-going programme of strike action on SWR over the retention and the role of the guard on their trains."

The next phase of strike action was due to commence on Friday, February 22.

Workers were also due to walk out on March 9 and 16.

The spokesman said through the talks process the company had now offered a guarantee of a guard on the South Western Railway services that have been in dispute.

A statement issued by the union said SWR had confirmed each passenger train would operate with a guard "on the introduction of any new or other modified rolling stock".

It added it had also been agreed that "all rolling stock train dispatch shall be subject to undertaking a safety risk assessment, on a station by station basis.

"This assessment will be completed with the involvement of company and trade union representatives utilising the agreed PTI assessment method already in place in the company, in addition to the utilisation of new technology within new or modified rolling stock."

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Firstly, we need to recognise that the breakthrough on the guard guarantee that has been secured today from South Western Railway has only been achieved through nearly two years of action and campaigning by RMT members on the principle of a safe and accessible railway for all. I want to pay tribute to the resilience, solidarity and determination of our guards and drivers on SWR that has sustained this long, hard campaign.

“I also want to thank the travelling public for their extraordinary support for the staff working at the sharp end of our rail services. That support has been another crucial factor in getting us to the breakthrough we have achieved today.

“Today’s offer of a guarantee of a guard on the SWR services in dispute is the substantial progress we have been pushing for and has allowed RMT’s executive to take the decision to suspend the current action to allow further talks to take place with the objective of reaching a final, agreed settlement.”