There were no moves yesterday to break the impasse in the five-day dispute at Iarnrod Eireann which has seriously disrupted rail services.
The company called on members of the breakaway Irish Locomotive Drivers' Association to end their action and join the other company drivers in working the new deal for locomotive drivers and "gain terms of improved pay and working conditions and enhanced safety".
Iarnrod Eireann condemned what it described as the "intimidatory tactics" being used by some ILDA members. However, the association has denied this allegation.
A company spokesman said: "Once again this morning, at a number of depots across the country, members of this group gathered at entrances to form an intimidatory presence. Not content with causing cancellations directly, their presence, which masqueraded as a `Support ILDA Fund' collection, was designed to prevent their driver colleagues, who have ensured services have been provided to our customers, from operating trains."
There are fears that if the dispute continues it could lead to redundancies by companies which rely on rail for deliveries.
It is understood that the ILDA position is that it is available for negotiations on changes in working conditions while members continue to work the old rosters. Its biggest objections to the new agreement were over Sunday working and safety.
The Cork and Kerry services were the worst affected yesterday. Services to Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Westport lines were operating at a similar level to previous days. Sligo, Rosslare and Belfast services operated as normal, as did the DART and Maynooth services. Drogheda and Dundalk commuter services were operating at 70 per cent. There was a minimal service on the Kildare Arrow line.
There are still no signs of intervention by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, or the Labour Relations Commission. Informed sources said there were no plans for third-party intervention.
Dick Hogan in Cork writes: Pickets at Kent station continued yesterday as thousands of rail passengers found their plans disrupted.
A company spokesman said there now seemed to be a general acceptance that the unofficial strike could be prolonged. No trains ran from Cork to Dublin.
The spokesman said that today was one of Iarnrod Eireann's peak travel days between the two cities, with more than 10,000 people normally expected to use the service. However, only a skeleton service would operate, including the 8.30 a.m. train from Dublin to Mallow, the 9.15 a.m. Tralee to Mallow train and the 11.30 a.m. special Mallow to Dublin train.
The dispute in Cork was complicated on Wednesday when members of SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union went on unofficial strike in protest over rostering arrangements. However, yesterday representatives of both unions met management and it is expected that all SIPTU and NBRU employees will work as usual today. Intending passengers are advised to consult the company's information line at 1850 366222.