This is a positive message and now it's time to go forward

Vernon Hince, RMT

Speaking after the announcement Vernon Hince, acting general secretary of the RMT, said further industrial action was still a "possibility".

But he said: "Our representatives who have been meeting are quite prepared to open negotiations to resolve it."

SWT said it was delighted about the decision to "suspend these damaging strikes".

Hopes were raised about a breakthrough in the dispute over pay after "good natured" and "positive" meetings on Thursday.

It is right that the RMT has finally listened to its members on South West Trains

Andrew Haines, SWT

Mr Hince told BBC News 24 union members had been prepared to go into talks with SWT for three weeks, after negotiations broke down at the arbitration service Acas.

"This dispute should have been resolved some time ago," he said.

He rejected claims previous industrial action in January had been made irrelevant by SWT, after company managers stepped in to carry out guard duties.

He said: "I don't think that boasting about 30% services on the network is the tack to take, when they could have been running a full service, that is 100% safe, with our members."

It is not clear what SWT plans to offer RMT members at next week's talks.

Train drivers

However Andrew Haines, the company's managing director, said he hoped the suspension of the strikes would become "permanent".

In a statement he said: "It is right that the RMT has finally listened to its members on South West Trains who want no more part in strike action.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every member of staff who rallied round during this action and our passengers for their forbearance."

The dispute began after the company refused to offer union members the same pay offer as the 7.6% increase over 18 months, offered to train drivers.

"However, this is a positive message and now it's time to go forward," said Mr Hince.