Kevin Lindsay said next week's action has been suspended

Ms Alexander said the Aslef union's plan for a fresh series of stoppages was "unacceptable" and it should rethink its negotiating tactics.

Kevin Lindsay, Aslef's Scottish secretary, said the new round of talks, could run for the next nine days.

The breakthrough came after talks in London involving National Express, which owns ScotRail, and senior Aslef officials.

ScotRail's acting Managing Director Nick Brown said: "I am delighted that common sense is now beginning to prevail.

"We are going into these talks in the hope that union demands will be realistic and can be financed through simple productivity improvements.

"Our position all along has been that we are more than willing to negotiate."

Nick Brown welcomed the breakthrough

Mr Brown added: "It is very much in the interests of our passengers and our entire workforce that this matter be settled without further strike action by the unions."

Phil McGarry of the RMT union said he would be taking part in the new talks and he welcomed the breakthrough.

He said: "As a gesture, we have agreed to postpone the two strikes planned for next week to allow discussions to continue and we hope that a deal can be brokered by the end of next week."

He added: "A window of opportunity exists to reach an agreement and I for my part will strive to do just that."