The threat to train services has receded following a dramatic about-face by the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association (ILDA).
Shortly before 8.00 last night the association issued a statement instructing members to work normally this morning.
Only three hours earlier the executive secretary of the ILDA, Mr Brendan Ogle, had said that up to 70 members were planning to resign rather than accept new working conditions proposed by Iarnrod Eireann.
The association then adjourned an extraordinary general meeting in Dublin to allow for contacts with the company to establish the basis on which members would be working.
According to the company, no communication was received from the ILDA. However, the association appeared to accept comments made by Iarnrod Eireann's human resources manager, Mr John Keenan, on RTE's Six One news that operational arrangements were not coming in until June 18th. This provided the necessary clarification to avert mass resignations.
Subsequently Mr Ogle called on the company, the Labour Relations Commission and the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, to use the intervening two weeks to hold talks that would "avert a similar situation arising" then.
Later Mr Keenan said the company's position had not changed.
"There was no contact from the ILDA yesterday, and I simply reiterated the fact that under the agreement we have with the trade unions no operational changes will take place before June 18th," he said. However, He also confirmed that train-drivers would be paid from today on the basis of the new annualised hours agreement to which the ILDA is opposed.
Mr Keenan pointed out that 55 ILDA drivers had already received amounts ranging from a few hundred pounds to £10,000 as compensation for lost overtime earnings under the new system. He was hopeful that other ILDA members would accept the annualised hours agreement.
Mr Ogle said earlier that the threat of legal action by the company if his members did not accept the new arrangements had left them with no alternative but to consider resignation. It is thought that if they had resigned, they would have pursued claims for constructive dismissal through the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
Although no disruption is expected, there is a helpline for intending passengers open from 8 a.m. at 1850 366 222.
Last night, the Irish Locomotive Drivers Association, in a statement, said it was opposed to Iarnrod Eireann's new deal for locomotive drivers for reasons connected directly with rail safety and members' statutory rights.