THE UNION behind 47 train strikes has announced that full services will finally return next Saturday after a "major breakthrough" today.

Members of the RMT union have arranged a number of strikes over a two-year period due to a long-term dispute with rail firm Northern over the role of conductors on trains.

But, the union's general secretary Mick Cash said the group has received a guarantee, during talks with arbitration firm ACAS, that conductors would be retained on all services "throughout the duration of the franchise".

Unfortunately, Northern say the announcement was made too late to allow the company to change its plans for services on Saturday, meaning less trains will run, with very few operating after 5pm.

Announcing the news, Mr Cash said: “Firstly I want to pay tribute to RMT’s members on Northern whose resilience and determination though two years and 47 days of action has been the foundation on which today’s major breakthrough has been based. They are an absolute credit to both this union and the wider movement.

“I also want to thank the travelling public for their extraordinary support and both Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram for their efforts that have been important in allowing us to break the deadlock today.

“Today’s offer of a guarantee of a conductor on all services throughout the duration of the franchise, including the new fleet, is the substantial progress we have been pushing for and has allowed RMT’s executive to take the decision to suspend the current action and allow for further talks to now take place with all stakeholders around the operational details.

“The union will make further statements in due course.”

David Brown, managing director at Northern, added: “We warmly welcome RMT’s decision to suspend its strike action and recommence talks about what the future role of the conductor looks like.

"We have been very clear in these discussions that there will be a conductor on all our trains now and into the future. We are looking forward to further positive talks with RMT about operational models moving ahead so that we can resolve their despite and bring it to an end.

"The suspension of the RMT strikes is good news for customers and businesses across the North."

The union had been due to lobby officials from regional body Transport for the North tomorrow, at a board meeting held to discuss the future of Northern transport.

Further talks, involving all stakeholders, will now seek further agreement on plans moving forwards.