DISRUPTIONS TO rail services will continue today after Labour Relations Commission (LRC) talks between Iarnród Éireann and train drivers' unions concluded without a resolution last night.
This morning's 6.30am Portlaoise to Dublin-Heuston service has been cancelled as has the 5.35pm Dublin-Heuston to Carlow service.
Iarnród Éireann last night apologised for any inconvenience caused to customers, and said it expected no further cancellations to today's schedule.
The cancellations come as part of a dispute involving company management and drivers who are said to be refusing to operate expanded services in Iarnród Éireann's new timetable.
The new timetable, which offers an increase in the number of trains that are running, has led to difficulties with train-crew rosters.
Drivers say they have not been trained to operate services on routes that they are not familiar with.
The company cited the unions Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union to the Labour Relations Commission for breach of agreements which provide that full rail services should be maintained while issues of rostering and work efficiencies are being progressed through the company and State industrial relations machinery.
Iarnród Éireann spokesman Barry Kenny last night said the company had entered into the LRC talks "constructively", and that the aim of the talks was to restore a full service. Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union have denied they are taking unofficial action and said the disruptions were due to understaffing.
Willie Noone of Siptu said train drivers were not engaged in any unofficial actions and he attributed the problems with services to "teething issues" around the new timetables and rosters and a "lack of resources" in some areas.
He said that in some places there were "plenty of drivers" available who had not been trained on new routes, while in other areas there may have been a shortage of drivers to operate trains.
Iarnród Éireann said it expected further contact with the Labour Relations Commission to take place today. Yesterday morning's 6.30am Portlaoise to Dublin-Heuston service was cancelled, as was the 5.35pm Dublin-Heuston to Carlow service.
Ten trains on busy commuter routes in Dublin were also cancelled yesterday, with services through Connolly Station to Balbriggan, Clonsilla and the Docklands particularly badly hit in the afternoon.
Iarnród Éireann attributed the cancellations to "five unexpected illnesses amongst drivers".
It apologised for any inconvenience caused to commuters.
The dispute also led to cancellations over the weekend, with buses hired to cover service gaps in Cork and Kerry and on the Dublin-Galway routes.
Passengers are advised to check www.irishrail.ie for up-to-date travel information.
