Dart drivers have voted overwhelmingly against a Labour Court recommendation that they drive longer trains for no extra pay.
They will gather at Liberty Hall this evening to discuss what action to take next with their trade union representatives from Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Workers Union. Tonight's meeting is to likely to discuss a ballot for industrial action.
A six-carraige Dart train at Blackrock station
The drivers are seeking a 9½ per cent pay increase for operating the eight-carriage trains that are replacing the current six-carriage trains. The drivers say they are increasing productivity and will have more safety responsibilities because of the extra passengers.
Dart drivers at the top end of the pay scale earn €48,000 per annum, for a five-day 41-hour week.
Iarnród Éireann say that the driver's claim has already been accommodated in a pay deal agreed in 2000 and the Labour Court has upheld its position.
Although Dart drivers have never taken industrial action there is concern at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce that they may do so now.
"The threat of industrial action and disruption to DART services is of great concern," said chamber chief executive Gina Quin.
"It is shocking to think that in modern Dublin, 84 Dart drivers can hold the rest of a city of more than 1.2 million people to ransom.
"Over €250 million has been spent on increasing the capacity and improving the safety of the Dart; passengers have endured many weekends without an available service as these works are completed; and now, at the last minute, a spurious claim is introduced, attempting to delay a much-needed boost to the capacity of Dublin's rail system," added Ms Quin.
Iarnród Éireann will begin testing longer Dart trains tonight at 10 pm despite concerns that some drivers will refuse to co-operate as part of the row over the pay claim.