RAILWAY drivers scrapped plans to strike on the week of Royal Ascot at the last minute. 

Staff for South Western Railway had announced that they would be striking from Thursday June 21 to Saturday June 23, in a dispute over funding and staff numbers.

This looked set to cause mayhem for commuters travelling to the famous race meet, with 300,000 punters expected to flock to Ascot over the course of the week.

The action was set to disrupt services going from London Waterloo to Reading, a line that goes straight through Ascot. 

At the last minute, however, the action was scrapped, and delayed 
Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said: “RMT welcomes the fact that following joint talks with South Western Railway, under the auspices of conciliation service ACAS, and subsequent correspondence, adequate progress has been made regarding the dispute over the role of the Guard and the extension of Driver Only Operation.

“We hope that the talks can continue in a constructive manner and an agreement can be reached.

“Therefore the union has suspended industrial action on South Western Railway planned for 0001 Hours on Thursday 21st June 2018 until 2359 Hours on Saturday 23rd June 2018”

Commuters still faced difficulties getting to the race meet, however, as the A329 London Road, running straight through the Ascot high street,, had a severe traffic warning in place. 

An official traffic warning read: "Royal Ascot race meeting at Ascot Racecourse. Gates open 10:30, first race at 14:30 and last race at 17:35 each day. 

"There will be a one-way system in place from 10:30 to 13:30 and from 16:00 to 20:00 on A332 Windsor Road and A330 Winkfield Road. 

"Expect delays on approaches from 19th to 23rd June."

Traffic is expected to affect back as far as Bracknell.