World Bulletin / News Desk

One of the two unions involved in a planned 48-hour walkout this week by staff on London's underground rail network has suspended its action and said the other union was likely to follow suit.

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) said on Tuesday it had agreed to postpone the strike following talks with managers over modernisation plans, and that the larger Rail, Maritime and Transportworkers union (RMT) was also likely to agree to suspend its walkout.

"The RMT are looking at the offer and they will probably suspend early this afternoon," said a TSSA spokesman just hours ahead of the planned stoppage.

A spokesman for the RMT had no immediate comment.

A 48-hour walkout last week over threats to jobs from the planned closure of manned ticket offices caused travel chaos for millions of Londoners and brought condemnation from Prime Minister David Cameron.

The TSSA said it could not release details of the agreement with London Underground but said it was hopeful further talks would lead to a deal allowing the strike to be cancelled.

"Further discussions will take place over the coming weeks to address our concerns," the spokesman said.