Iarnród Éireann management and unions representing rail workers in the south west of the country are meeting at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) today ahead of a threatened one-day stoppage in the area tomorrow.
The dispute between SIPTU and NBRU workers and the Iarnród Éireann centres around changes to work practices at the company.
The threatened 24-strike by line inspection and maintenance staff is likely to cause major disruption to train services in Cork, Mallow, Tralee and Limerick.
The union said: "Rail workers are being forced to take industrial action because management is continuing to forge ahead with plans which undermine existing working conditions without agreement".
SIPTU branch organiser Willie Noone said: "Management is progressively introducing a five-day week spread over seven days for certain categories of workers and utilising contract workers to carry out essential work which should be done by our members".
"As no resolution could be found, after exhaustive negotiations our members had no option but to serve notice of industrial action on September 7th", he said.
However the company said that with today's LRC talks there is "no justifiable reason" rail customers should suffer disruption tomorrow.
Services which may be affected include: Cork to Dublin, Ennis to Limerick to Dublin, Tralee to Dublin, Tralee to Cork and other Cork commuter services.
In a statement Iarnród Éireann said it cannot guarantee rail services and apologises to customers for any inconvenience caused.
The company advises customers to check its website, or phone 1850366222, before traveling tomorrow.