Rail services disrupted again due to strike

Rail services in the south and west of the country are disrupted again this morning due to continuing unofficial strike action by some drivers.

The drivers downed tools yesterday morning as part of a dispute over the introduction of new inner-city trains.

The action has led to the cancellation of all services to and from Cork, Kerry, Galway, Mayo and Limerick today, as well as commuter services from Kildare, Portlaoise and Cobh.

Iarnód Éireann says it cannot guarantee services on any these routes for the rest of the day.

The company is calling on the drivers to return to work, saying the Labour Court has already rejected their claim for extra pay in return for operating the new trains.

The drivers claim they have not been properly trained to operate the vehicles.

They also say they were angered by the fact that the vehicles were introduced ahead of a meeting with management today to discuss outstanding industrial relations issues.

That meeting has now been cancelled, but industrial relations mediator Phil Flynn is due to meet union officials to see if he can find a way out of the impasse.