Drivers at Irish Rail belonging to SIPTU and NBRU are to strike for two days during rush hour.

Iarnród Éireann management say they have received notification for industrial action on Friday October 23rd and Friday November 6th between 6.00am and 9.00am on both dates.

This would affect all Intercity, DART and Commuter services.

Irish Rail says any disruption will be "hugely damaging", with the effects felt beyond the hours of action due to train sets and crews being out of place for following services.

"Industrial action will damage customer demand, customer confidence, the finances of the company and ultimately the interests of all employees", it adds.

The dispute centres on payment for past productivity.

Members of the National Bus and Rail Workers Union (NBRU) voted by a margin of 95% to engage in industrial action.

NBRU General-Secretary Dermot O'Leary said it relates to "the company's refusal to honour the Labour Relations Commission agreement of the 3rd of September 2014 which provided for discussions on the contributions which train drivers have delivered over the last number of years".

While 92% of SIPTU drivers voted for the action.

SIPTU says the company has reneged on a commitment to discuss past productivity, and if they do not honour the terms of that agreement it will inevitably lead to disruption of services.

The first day of the action, October 23rd, is also the start of a bank holiday weekend.

Barry Kenny of Irish Rail says the strike will affect trains for the whole day.

General-Secretary of the NBRU, Dermot O’Leary, says they have been left with no option but to walk off the job.