More rail strike disruption expected tomorrow

Rail passengers face further disruption tomorrow as the train drivers' strike enters its third day.

Tomorrow [Thursday], the Dublin to Sligo and Dublin to Westport and Ballina routes will be affected, with bus transfers operating between Athlone and Westport/Ballina.

The 6.10 a.m. commuter service between Longford-Connolly (departs Maynooth 7.35 a.m., serving all commuter stops Maynooth-Connolly) and the 5.15 p.m. Connolly-Maynooth-Longford service are expected to be cancelled.

Over 25,000 Munster rail passengers experienced severe travel disruption today as the strike hit services to and from Dublin's Heuston station.

The Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union is conducting the strike for more than 100 recently amalgamated Irish Locomotive Drivers’ Association members.

Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon, the Taoiseach said the ATGWU was "wrong in this instance" and that it had breached a union agreement.

The disputes committee is the place where this dispute should be resolved Mr Noel Dowling of SIPTU

The ATGWU said it is taking the action because it was not allowed to represent seven members who recently appeared before an Iarnród Éireann disciplinary hearing.

An ATGWU spokesman said: "There is an a responsibility on John Keenan [Iarnród Éireann’s human resources manager] and the company to talk to the chosen representatives of nearly half their train drivers."

But this morning Iarnród Éireann repeated it will not negotiate with the ATGWU and is relying on an existing agreement which gives negotiating rights only to SIPTU and the NBRU which represent the rest of the train drivers.

The refusal by SIPTU members to pass the ATGWU pickets is increasing the impact of the strike action.

Mr Noel Dowling of SIPTU told ireland.comthis morning little movement was expected in the dispute until tomorrow evening's Irish Congress of Trade Unions disputes' committee meeting. "The disputes committee is the place where this dispute should be resolved," he said.