Talks chaired by the Labour Relations Commission to try to end the unoffical strike, which has halted rail services in and out of Cork since last Thursday, are continuing this evening in Mallow.
Both management and unions have exchanged proposals aimed at ending the dispute and these are being considered.
However it is likely that train services to and from Cork will be disrupted again tomorrow.
Rail passengers experienced further disruption today on the sixth day of unofficial strike action by the train drivers.
The dispute centres on a disagreement between the company and Cork-based train drivers over training.
The disruptions began when a Cork-based driver refused to work his roster on Thursday after being asked to facilitate the instruction of new trainee drivers.
Irish Rail management and unions say an agreement on a resumption of services is possible.
But the company's insistance on train drivers signing a commitment to honour the terms of existing agreements remains a stumbling block.
The intervention of the Labour Relations Commission, with facilitator Tom Pomphrett holding separate meetings with Irish Rail unions and management, is the first outside attempt to resolve this dispute since the strike started last Thursday.
The primary focus of these talks is to get the drivers back to work and this session is not addressing the core issues of the dispute.
On their way into the talks, SIPTU and the NBRU insisted their drivers are available to return to work.
Mr Pomphrett has been meeting separately with both sides since around three o'clock this afternoon and they have been considering their positions.
Passengers intending to travel should check Iarnród Éireann's website before embarking on their journey.
The company has estimated that up to yesterday, the unofficial strike had already cost it up to €2m.
It has also caused major chaos and inconvenience for thousands of passengers.
