Pre-Christmas rail strikes called off but Boxing Day Tube strike will go ahead

RMT general secretary Bob Crow (Getty Images)

Pre-Christmas strikes that threatened to cause chaos for hundreds of thousands of rail passengers have been called off.

Four days of stoppages planned by ScotRail staff belonging to the RMT union, due to start on Friday evening and continue until Christmas Eve, have been cancelled. Friday’s 24-hour industrial action by members of the same union working for CrossCountry, which runs trains across England, Wales and Scotland from its hub at Birmingham New Street, has also been dropped.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said in relation to the latter that “significant progress” had been made in negotiations. However he warned: “If no progress is made in the talks with CrossCountry, further industrial action may have to be called”.

Meanwhile a Boxing Day strike by London Underground drivers looks set to go ahead. Arsenal have called off the derby match against West Ham because of fears that supporters and staff would not be able to reach the Emirates stadium. Tube drivers are seeking triple time and an extra day off for working on 26 December.