MICK Lynch has called off strikes across Network Rail after receiving a fresh offer from bosses.
Hopes of a breakthrough to months of industrial strife were raised as the RMT hardman blinked and suspended walkouts on the service.
His members had been due to strike on March 16 along with an overtime ban in the latest escalation of their pay row.
But a statement late last night said the RMT National Executive was pausing all strikes on Network Rail “following a receipt of a new offer from the employer”.
It said an update on the bitter dispute with ministers and rail bosses will be made in the coming days.
Strikers 'could be handed perks in bid to end crippling industrial action'
RMT workers are still due to strike on 14 operators represented by the Rail Delivery Group on March 16, 18, 30 and April 1.
Punters travelling to Cheltenham and kids on Easter break will be desperately hoping this separate dispute will be resolved to spare them chaos on the trains.
The Sun understands the RMT has not extracted higher wage hikes from Network Rail, which remains a nine per cent pay rise over two years.
Instead they are understood to have haggled over other workplace issues to “repackage” elements of the offer.
It is believed that Mr Lynch will put the deal - five per cent this year and four per cent the next - to his members in a referendum, while it is not yet known how he will urge them to vote.
Government insiders said it was a “significant climbdown” from Mr Lynch who snubbed Transport Secretary Mark Harper’s “best and final offer” just weeks ago.
A source said: “There is no more money on the table, instead Network Rail and the RMT have gone away and rebadged some of the deal, and the RMT have moved heavily.”
Network Rail’s chief executive, Andrew Haines, said: “We are relieved for our people, passengers and freight customers that industrial action in Network Rail has now been suspended. We look forward to further information on plans for a referendum.”
More unions have been pausing their strikes following developments with bosses and ministers.
Nurses and ambulance strikes this week have been called off for fresh talks with the government.
Train drivers set to be given £2,000 pay rise in bid to end ongoing strikes
And firefighters this week voted not to strike and instead accept a new pay offer.
A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: "The RMT leadership's decision to put Network Rail's deal to its membership is a welcome development, but train operating staff will rightly be asking why their union continues to deny them the opportunity to have their say on our equivalent offer.
"Instead of inflicting more lost pay on its members and disruption to our passengers, we are calling on the union to call off their strikes and meet us for urgent talks to resolve this dispute."
