Progress made to avoid train disruption during The Open

Rory McIlroy will likely be the focus of attention at The Open golf championship in Portrush

Progress has been made in talks to avoid disruption to rail travel next week, including during The Open golf championship in Portrush.

There has been concern that planned industrial action on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 July could shut the rail network, but Translink said an "agreement" had been found with some of the workers.

More than 200 workers from the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) are involved in a dispute over pay.

Translink said it remained "committed to achieving a positive resolution" to the dispute with the remaining two TSSA groups.

The public transport body will work with the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) to progress discussions and said it was "fully committed" to operating all bus and rail services next Friday and Saturday, including its planned special services for the golf.

The union concerned is TSSA (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association) which represents mostly railway workers

About 270,000 spectators are expected during the eight days of practice and competitive play.

The proposed industrial action could have caused widespread disruption to rail services, not just in Portrush, with bus services also being potentially affected.

The first official practice day is on Sunday with the four-day championship beginning on Thursday 17 July.

The TSSA represents mostly railway workers in clerical, administrative, supervisory and managerial roles.

Last month, after a vote, they announced they were prepared to take strike action, if necessary.

An offer received from Translink on Wednesday was rejected by TSSA.

On Friday, members voted overwhelmingly in favour of both strike action and action short of a strike.

Within supervisor grades at NI Railways, support for strike action was more than 90% in favour. There were similar results in other areas – including Ulsterbus and management grades at NI Railways with more than 80%.

'A reasonable deal'

Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of the TSSA, welcomed the "fair and just" offer Translink had made to the supervisor grades.

The union said the pay offer averages at about 7% but it was contingent on the group agreeing to pause their planned industrial action.

Ms Eslamdoust added that the public transport body must now do the same for the clerical staff as well as the management, professional and technical grades or "face the impact of walkouts".

"All we are asking for is a reasonable deal which has been offered to other staff in Translink," she added.

"We do not strike lightly and would be happy to meet Translink at the LRA as soon as possible to make further progress."

It is six years since The Open was last in Northern Ireland.

Since then a new transport hub Grand Central Station has opened in Belfast.

There is now a more frequent train service to and from Dublin which will make it easier for golf fans from the Republic of Ireland to travel to Portrush, if there is no disruption to services.

Ireland's Shane Lowry won The Open at Portrush in 2019 amid raucous scenes of celebration on the 18th green.

Rory McIlroy's recent victory in the Masters means he will be the focus of attention when the four-day tournament begins on 17 July.