Siptu says strike action will go ahead affecting Dart services in Dublin, unless plans for new timetables are withdrawn.

Unions representing train drivers are in talks with the company at the Workplace Relations Commission this morning, in a dispute over a new Dart timetable with services every 10 minutes.

The WRC is also holding talks today with nurses concerned about overcrowding and Luas drivers who’re planning another strike on St Patrick’s Day this week.

Paul Cullen of Siptu says Dart drivers will walk off the job if the new schedule is brought in without agreement.

He said: “I’m looking for the company to take a step back here in relation to this issue. Quite frankly, if the company insists on introducing this 10 minute Dart service without agreement, there will be a dispute on the Dart.

“As this formed part of our previous discussions with regard to productivity, basically what we are going to say here today is that we are going to ask the company to withdraw that timetable until such time as the exercise, as recommended by the court, has been completed.”

Iarnród Éireann has said that additional drivers have been trained so “the improved service can be delivered within existing rostering parameters”.

The company said: “As new drivers have been trained, the delivery of the enhanced schedule is not a productivity issue as claimed by driver unions SIPTU and NBRU.

“The company hopes the trade unions will engage with the normal process of timetable change at local level so this much-needed enhanced service can be delivered to customers as planned on 10th April.”