RMT says it has put together a new formula, in line with the national rostering principles, which it hopes will allow Network Rail to move towards a settlement of the dispute, which has seen 450 signallers and supervisors on strike since noon today.

"Our members have given a magnificent display of solidarity today, and we now need to see Network Rail move towards us if we are to see this dispute settled before Thursday's second strike begins," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said tonight.

"We will be taking the initiative and going in to tomorrow's talks with a fresh form of words which we hope will form the basis of an agreement, and it is to be hoped that Network Rail will respond in a positive way," Bob Crow said.

ends

Notes to editors: Fresh talks in the signallers' dispute will take place at ACAS tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.

The first of two scheduled 24-hour strikes by some 450 RMT signallers and signals supervisors will end at noon tomorrow, and the second is set to begin at noon on Thursday October 9. A ban on overtime and rest-day working began at 00:01 today.

RMT signallers and signals supervisors in Scotland voted by a margin of more than two to one for strike action over the breakdown in industrial relations that centres on agreements on rostering and transfers.