The board of CIE meets tomorrow to make a final decision on the proposed cutbacks which unions fear could cost up to 600 jobs.
They include withdrawal from unprofitable freight services and the possible closure of rail lines between Limerick and Rosslare as well as the line between Limerick and Ballybrophy.
CIE argues that these lines are underused, with the Rosslare-Limerick Junction route requiring a subsidy of at least €500 per passenger journey.
Its freight services were predicted to lose €14 million this year, but that situation has been exacerbated by the closure of IFI, which will mean a further €4 million in losses for the rail company.
The company says at most 250 jobs would be affected by the cutbacks, and these would be dealt with through voluntary redundancy and redeployment.
Union balloting for industrial actionThe National Bus and Rail Union is currently balloting for industrial action over the closures.
SIPTU National Rail official, Tony Tobin, said it was possible that unions would decide to withdraw co-operation from joint participation committees.
He called for the resignation of the chairman of the company and all Government appointed directors, saying they had been appointed to run the company, not close it down.
The proposed cutbacks have been opposed by exporters, farmers, the sugar beet industry and communities in the southeast.
The Government has already said that no matter what decision the Board reaches at its meeting tomorrow, no final decisions will be made until after publication of the Strategic Rail Review sometime before Christmas.
