THE RAIL strikes were called off today after a crunch meeting between Connex and rail union Aslef.

Commuters breathed a sigh of relief as the threat of further disruption was halted.

Today's meeting between Connex and Aslef was called in a bid to resolve a dispute over hours and avert further industrial action.

An insider said Aslef had won its demands for a shorter working week and for pensionable pay to be introduced.

If means a series of five further one-day strikes, starting next Wednesday and continuing throughout the month, will be called off.

Under the deals, hours will be cut to 36 by this October.

There will also be a phasing in of 100 per cent pensionable pay by 2003.

An estimated 80 extra drivers will be needed to deliver the shorter working week, said the union.

"We are pleased to have achieved this deal, which should avoid further disruption for rail travellers and allow further meaningful negotiations to take place," said Aslef general secretary Mick Rix.

Connex refused to comment until details of the agreement had been rubber-stamped but confirmed talks had been

constructive.

A spokesman said: "Talks have gone well. Everyone has wanted a quick resolution to this dispute."

On Tuesday, train services in Sussex were plunged into chaos when the first one-day strike was staged by drivers.

Connex cancelled one in ten services and there were traffic jams across the county.

Lewes MP Norman Baker welcomed the end of the "archaic" dispute.

He said: "The situation was not constructive."

And Kemp Town MP Des Turner today urged Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the rail regulator to launch an urgent inquiry into poor quality train services.

Ten MPs have signed a Commons motion criticising Connex South Eastern which they say has slashed some services by half and withdrawn others completely.

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