DART services are to begin operating to Greystones by the end of this month and to be extended to Malahide by June, according to senior Iarnrod Eireann sources. The first test runs on the Greystones extension take place today, when the line from Bray is "energised" to take the DART.
The service is likely to begin on March 29th or 30th. It will be at a reduced rate initially. As new drivers become available, the number of trains will increase. The first nine drivers complete their training by mid-April.
The Malahide service is expected to begin in June. DART trains will alternate between Howth and Malahide. Company sources said this may lead to a reduction in the frequency of services on the Howth branch line during peak times, but more trains would be run and the overall impact would be minimal.
Meanwhile, a new threat to Inter-city services has emerged. Management and unions are to hold urgent talks next week to avert a major row over the implementation of a new pay deal for mainline train drivers.
The deal provides for the introduction of a five-day week, a basic salary of £29,500 and improved pension scheme. The unions had expected the package to be introduced on June 1st, but the company informed them late last week that it would not be implemented until September 25th.
It gave as its reasons problems recruiting and training drivers, the introduction of the summer rosters and annual leave requirements of the drivers themselves.
Iarnrod Eireann management and representatives of SIPTU and the National Bus and Railworkers' Union met at the Labour Relations Commission yesterday and agreed to talks next Tuesday to review the situation. SIPTU branch secretary Mr Tony Tobin said the company proposal to defer the new terms was not acceptable, but he was confident the problem could be resolved.
The company's human re sources manager, Mr John Keenan, said his aim next week would be to bring forward implementation of the agreement as early as possible. He rejected a claim by the Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association that the delays were because of the safety audit on the railway system.
Earlier yesterday, the executive secretary of the ILDA, Mr Brendan Ogle, od Eireann had not changed since SIPTU and the NBRU had agreed the new deal last month. He also warned that his members would not accept any changes in the rosters until their concerns over rail safety and other issues were met.