24-hour Sydney train strike still on despite 'constructive' pay dispute talks

A 24-hour train strike is still slated to go ahead in Sydney with unions and rail management yet to come to an agreement on a pay dispute.

Talks between unions and Sydney Trains will reconvene after a rail strike was announced. (AAP)

A planned 24-hour Sydney train strike  is still going ahead despite promising negotiations between unions and rail management.

More than 9000 train workers are due to strike on Monday, January 29, as their union pushes for a six per cent pay rise over four years. The government is holding firm on a 2.5 per cent increase.

Talks between Sydney Train management and workers' groups - spearheaded by Unions NSW - restarted on Thursday, two days after the strike was announced.

Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said the negotiations were the most positive they had been in several months but the two sides fell short in several key areas, meaning the planned strike was still scheduled to go ahead.

"They were constructive," Mr Morey told AAP.

"We probably had the most movement we've had in a couple of months today, so everyone is working hard to get it resolved."

Issues including rostering and pay will be part of a "whole package" to be discussed in coming days before any decisions are made, according to the Rail Tram and Bus Union's NSW secretary Alex Claassens.

Mr Claasens described the three-hour talks with rail management as "constructive".

"There has been a shift in their position, absolutely," he told reporters outside the meeting.

"Obviously the minister's had a conversation with them and said, 'Look bring your real game to the table today', and I think they did that."

Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins also said discussions had been positive.

"We're doing as much as we can and we're talking...we're moving forward," Mr Collins told reporters.

File image: NSW Opposition leader Luke Foley (AAP) Source: AAP

On Wednesday, Opposition Leader Luke Foley called on NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to sideline her transport minister Andrew Constance.

"I'm not a fan of a strike, I want to see that strike called off but what that will take is the intervention of the premier," Mr Foley told reporters.

"There's plenty of middle ground here but a belligerent transport minister has inflamed rather than resolved the situation."

The strike plan follows a horror week for Sydney's rail network, which left thousands of commuters stranded in peak hour last Tuesday.

Union leaders are expected to meet with Mr Constance on Friday morning.