The CIÉ unions have decided to defer their planned industrial action, following lengthy negotiations with officials from the Department of Transport today.
In a joint statement from the unions and the Department, they said they have agreed to a phased series of discussions during September and early October.
These are intended to "address the concerns of the trade unions in a meaningful way in the context of the objective of securing value for money from public transport services through increased efficiency and better value for customers," the statement said.
The National Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU) general secretary, Mr Liam Tobin, added that he was hopeful both sides "could at last do business" in the light of the progress made at today's talks.
The unions staged a national "No Fares Day" last month in protest at proposals by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, to break up CIÉ and introduced privatised bus routes in Dublin.
They had threatened to escalate industrial action over the coming months and a "Day of Action" was scheduled for next Tuesday.