Disruption to Dublin's Dart services today was averted last night as drivers voted to withdraw their opposition to Iarnród Éireann's plans to introduce longer trains.
There had been concern that the drivers would proceed with unofficial industrial action, as the company's plan for testing the longer trains, due to be implemented last night, was postponed.
But in a meeting of drivers in Liberty Hall last night unions conducted a further ballot of their members and they decided against industrial action.
"The drivers have agreed to go ahead with the testing of the new, longer trains and there will now be no further ballot on whether to take industrial action," said a Siptu spokeswoman.
The row was over the attempted implementation of eight-carriage trains by Iarnród Éireann, which drivers claimed was contrary to a 1984 agreement that stated the maximum number of carriages on any Dart train would be six.
Drivers felt that the increased productivity and responsibility associated with carrying more passengers should be rewarded accordingly.
But following a two and a half hour meeting with union leaders last night it was agreed to call off the protest.
"The drivers recognise that they have had a very good industrial relationship with the company up to now and they would like that to continue," said the Siptu spokeswoman.
"They were disappointed with the action that the company took but ultimately they are going to accept the longer trains and that is an end of the matter as far as we are concerned," she said.
Despite staff disquiet, management maintained that a more recent agreement in 2000 superseded the 1984 accord and the company refused to offer a pay increase or once-off payment for agreeing to operate the longer trains. The company said that drivers had already been paid for the work in the 2000 deal.
"We welcome the result of the drivers' ballot," said Barry Kenny of Iarnród Éireann last night.
"It is a good outcome for ourselves and more importantly for our customers, who have had to put up with all the disruption while the upgrading of our services has been going on."
It is thought that the longer trains will be in use by the middle of next month.
The Labour Court had heard the drivers' grievance in June and rejected their claim.
The unions involved, Siptu and the National Bus and Rail Union, had balloted their 84 Dart-driving members yesterday and they overwhelmingly voted to reject the court's ruling. But that decision was overturned at last night's meeting in Dublin.
Earlier, Dublin Chamber of Commerce had called the drivers' grievance "spurious" and said that unions were holding public transport investment to ransom.
". . . passengers have endured many weekends without an available service as these works are completed and now . . . a spurious claim is introduced attempting to delay a much-needed boost to the capacity of Dublin's rail system, said chamber chief executive Gina Quin.