The RMT has cancelled a ‘week of action’ which it had planned to stage on London Underground from 23 July. If the walkouts had gone ahead, Transport for London had warned that almost no trains would have run on the worst-affected days.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘There has been significant progress made by our negotiating team in ACAS talks with TfL. However this is not the end of the dispute nor is it a victory for the union as yet.

‘Our members were prepared to engage in significant disruptive industrial action and I commend their resolve. RMT's strike mandate remains live until October and we are prepared to use it if necessary.

’We will continue to negotiate in good faith as we always have done with TfL and it was only the steadfast commitment of our members in being prepared to take sustained strike action that has forced the employer to make significant concessions.’

London Mayor Sadiq Khan responded: ‘It is really welcome news for Londoners that the trade unions have suspended their planned strikes next week and that commuters won't face disruption.

‘Despite the onerous funding deal conditions imposed by the Government we have managed to avoid industrial action.

‘Negotiation is always the best way forward and this shows what we can achieve by working with trade unions.’

Meanwhile, a further 24-hour strike by RMT members on most National Rail operators in England is still set to go ahead tomorrow, in the union’s long-running dispute over pay, conditions and job security. Another walkout is planned for the following Saturday.