Bonfire night travel will still see disruption despite strikes being called off at the 11th hour.

Services on South Western Railway (SWR)were set to be “severely reduced” from Saturday, November 5, to Thursday, November 10, between 7:15am and 6.30pm after members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) agreed to walk out over disputes with the government about pay rises and working conditions. 

However, just this afternoon RMT announced a suspension of the strikes "after securing intensive negotiations with rail bosses".

The union leader's "will now enter into a period of intensive negotiations with Network Rail and the train operating companies."

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Rail bosses, however, have said the news comes 'too late' to reverse the planned changes to have a reduced timetable this weekend and into the early part of next week.

A Great Western Railway statement said: "The train operator is working hard to reinstate services into next week, but given the late notice, GWR’s advice to only travel if absolutely necessary on Saturday and Monday remains in place."

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “It is positive that talks with the RMT trade union appear to be showing some progress and we’re hopeful that today’s news brings us a step closer to finding a resolution to this long-running dispute. 

“Unfortunately, with less than 12 hours’ notice before the strike was due to start, it is too late to restore normal timetables and spare customers from disruption tomorrow and the early part of next week. Our advice remains to only travel by rail if necessary.” 

Guy Fawkes Night on November 5 is expected to bring with it severe disruption, with a high risk of people being left stranded while travelling to and from firework events.

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The following day also brings with it fewer rail replacement buses than originally planned due to engineering work being carried out on the south coast and west of England. 

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The threat of strike action and our strongly supported industrial campaign has made the rail employers see sense.

“We have always wanted to secure a negotiated settlement and that is what we will continue to push for in this next phase of intensive talks.

“Our re-ballot remains live and if we have to take strike action during the next 6 months to secure a deal, we will.”

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A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson had earlier said they were “frustrated” about the decision to take further strike action and hoped staff and customers would have been given “a much-needed break from the disruption and lost pay of the last five months.”  

SWR have also announced that serving military personnel and veterans attending local Remembrance Sunday events on Sunday, November 13, can travel for free on all SWR services.