Train services face renewed disruption next month because of a row between unions and Iarnrod Eireann on the size of negotiating teams to discuss pay.
Iarnrod Eireann wants to reduce the size of delegations to help speedier discussions, but the unions say exclusion of particular groups or depots could be counterproductive because members would reject anything agreed.
The talks involve 550 non-driver manual workers such as guards, shunters, ticket checkers and depot persons. If they go ahead with the first of a series of threatened one-day strikes on March 15th, rail services will close.
There are also worrying signs that the train drivers' dispute could be reactivated.
Iarnrod Eireann's human resources manager, Mr John Keenan, said mainline drivers pursuing a parity claim with DART drivers were already refusing to operate an improved Dublin commuter service from Maynooth.
Commenting on the launch of a campaign by the National Bus and Railworkers' Union (NBRU) last week to oppose privatisation of public transport services, he said the continued threat to services was only bringing the prospect closer.
NBRU general secretary Mr Liam Tobin said privatisation in Britain had been a disaster for transport workers and the public. He accused the Government of rushing through legislation to dismember CIE. SIPTU branch secretary Mr Tony Tobin warned the Minister for Public Enterprise Ms O'Rourke his members "will bring the rail system to a stop if we have to, to prevent privatisation".
He accused Ms O'Rourke of reneging on commitments to SIPTU, made at its railway branch conference in Ennis last year, to protect CIE.