Unions at Irish Rail say the only way strike action planned for next Sunday and Monday can be averted is if the company and the Government freeze the implementation of pay cuts.
Discussions at the Labour Relations Commission in Dublin have resumed following exploratory talks on Saturday.
The company says it is confident of being able to resolve the dispute, but unions seem to be less optimistic.
After three hours of talks on Saturday, all sides in teh Irish Rail dispute are back at the Labour relations Commission this afternoon.
On his way into the talks Irish Rail's H-R director Ciaran Masterson was optimistic that while difficulties lay ahead, they could look at averting the next 48 hour strike that will hit All Ireland hurling final fans on Sunday, and commuters on Monday.
That optimism though isn't shared by unions.
SIPTU's Owen Reidy says there's really only one way the strike can be called off.
And the NBRU is more trenchant, saying the big issue now is for the Government and how it funds Irish Rail – General Secretary Dermot O'Leary.
Commuters will be keeping a keen eye on these talks – but as of yet there's little sign that the planned strike for Sunday and Monday can be averted.