Severe disruption to rail services between Dublin and Cork will continue today as the strike by the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association (ILDA) enters its ninth day.
Only one train will leave Dublin for Cork, departing at 3.20 p.m. and travelling as far as Mallow. Passengers will then be bussed to Cork city.
The only train from Cork to Dublin will leave Mallow late this evening. Passengers will be bussed from Cork to Mallow at 7.15 p.m.
Details of services between Dublin and Tralee had not been confirmed last night, but it was thought most trains would be cancelled.
Three trains will run from Dublin to Limerick at 10.05 a.m., 5.20 p.m. and 5.30 p.m., and three from Limerick to Dublin at 6.45 a.m., 7.45 a.m. and 2.25 p.m. All services between Dublin and Galway will operate, but the 6.05 p.m. commuter train from Dublin to Athlone in Co Westmeath has been cancelled. Belfast and Rosslare services will run as normal.
Members of the ILDA are refusing to work their rostered duties under new arrangements agreed by Iarnrod Eireann with SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union under the new deal for locomotive drivers.
The majority of union members accepted the new system, which involved trading flexibility in working hours for enhanced basic pay rates of up to £29,500 per year.
Iarnrod Eireann said all anticipated departures today were subject to change "due to the intimidatory presence" of ILDA drivers at depots around the State "in order to deny drivers, who have been operating a service for our customers, their right to work".
The association rejects any suggestion of intimidatory tactics.
At least 130 of the 342 mainline train drivers are ILDA members.
Its executive secretary, Mr Brendan Ogle, has said 12 to 15 members of his association are working the new agreement, but a similar number of SIPTU and NBRU members are refusing to do so.
The ILDA is thought to be willing to make itself available for negotiations on changes in working conditions if members can continue to work the old rosters. It objects to certain aspects of the Sunday working and questions the safety validation of the new working rosters.
Yesterday's GAA special trains from Kildare and Athlone ran as normal, but trains from Tullamore and Athy were cancelled.
"We cannot and will not deal with this group, given that they can't lawfully act as a union," a company spokesman said last night. The company estimates losses due to the dispute at £150,000 per day.
Details of other services affected by the strike are available at www.irishrail.ie and on 1850 366222 from 6 a.m.
