BBC News Online: UK

Tube strikes suspended

The union had been planning to hold two more strikes on 12 and 19 February, after Monday's walkout closed several lines and brought gridlock to central London.

But an Aslef spokesman said: "We have had a number of significant concessions from London Underground which we believe will lead to a safer tube system."

Leaders of Aslef and the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union met London Underground (LU) managers on Thursday to try and resolve their differences.

The national conciliation service Acas said in a statement that "substantial progress" had been made.

"All parties will continue discussions over the next couple of weeks to move towards settling the dispute."

Aslef had said that LU's proposal to part-privatise the tube lines would compromise safety on the underground.

The union had also demanded promises on job security including no compulsory redundancies.

Appeal lost

Earlier on Thursday the RMT lost its appeal against a High Court ruling that the union's strike ballot was invalid.

Three Court of Appeal judges announced their decision to dismiss the RMT's bid to overturn the ruling.

They are due to give full reasons for their decision next week.

Despite an injunction banning the union from taking part in the strikes, many RMT workers came out in sympathy with their Aslef colleagues on Monday.