Train crew

NEW East Anglia franchise operator One has agreed not to extend driver-only operations in line with the agreement that RMT had with the previous operator First Great Eastern. One plans to extend services beyond Ipswich by linking the former FGE service to the town with local services to new destinations including Lowerstoft and Peterborough via Bury St Edmunds. Since these new routes are not completely electrified and will be operated by diesel stock, services will be guarded north of Ipswich in both directions. SOUTHERN: The South London-based franchise Southern intends to introduce 377 stock on routes and confirmed that these services will not be driver-only operations on any part of the line between East Croydon and East Grinstead. No extension of driver-only operations on One 10 RMT news – Train crew Midland Mainline ballot for action MIDLAND Mainline RMT members are being balloted for industrial action short of a strike following a breakdown of negotiations over the need for guards on the new 170 and 222 Meridian train units. The union has made clear that where these trains operate in multiple unit formation with no through passageway between units, then a guard should be working each separate unit. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that it was regrettable that management had attempted bully and intimidate members into working the new units while ignoring genuine concerns expressed by union reps. Management has continually asserted that a risk assessment had been carried out. However, that risk assessment was conducted prior to the current Meridian stock being delivered and that it was nothing more than a paper exercise in an office. The union also pointed out that the Train Manager did not have a dedicated local door from which they would be able to signal to the driver for dispatch purposes in the event of a communication failure to the buzzer system. RMT argued that any meaningful risk assessment must be a live with a real time exercise undertaken in operation. However, irrespective of the outcome of any further risk assessments, the policy of the union is an agreement to be reached on multiple unit working – and, so far, management has shown no desire to come to such an agreement. As a result company council represen- tatives unanimously requested a ballot for industrial action short of a strike, a course of action backed by the General Grades Committee. Role of the guard under threat – again GUARDS’ jobs are once more under threat from attempts to introduce driver-only operations, from the provisions of the Railways Bill and from plans to introduce “Community Rail” lines. The introduction of new rolling stock has been used as the excuse to undermine agreements on the role of the guard. The Railways Bill also contains provisions to allow cuts in rail services. The Bill puts in place arrangements making it easier for bus replacement services to be introduced if this is part of a wider strategy which includes reductions in rail services. These provisions need to be set alongside government proposals for a “Community Rail Development Strategy” in which the government plans to introduce community rail lines on fifty six routes across England and Wales. Such a policy could mean an attack on jobs and the introduction of driver-only operations on many services. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that with the massive stock replacement already underway across many train operating companies, the role of the guards could be under threat. “All these development amount to the thin edge of the wedge and should be viewed with great concern by guards at every TOC,” he said. The Association of Community Rail Partnerships recently published a document, ‘Novel Solutions for List of proposed Community Rail lines by region *Services already supported by a Community Rail Partnership *Junctions that are not stations are shown in italics South West Passenger service Route designated Notes St Erth to St Ives* St Erth to St Ives Pilot project Truro to Falmouth* Penwithers Junction to Falmouth TERFN route† Par to Newquay* Par to Newquay Served by through Virgin and First Great Western trains Liskeard to Looe* Liskeard to Looe Pilot project Plymouth to Gunnislake* St Budeaux Junction to Pilot project Gunnislake Exmouth/Paignton/Exeter Cowley Bridge Junction to Linked to Dartmoor Railway to Barnstaple* Barnstaple at Crediton Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Narroways Hill Junction to Diversionary route Beach* Severn Beach Bristol to Weymouth* Castle Cary to Yeovil Junction/ Diversionary route Castle Cary to Yeovil Junction South East Passenger service Route designated Notes Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin Brockenhurst to Lymington Twyford to Henley-on-Thames Maidenhead to Marlow Slough to Windsor Oxford to Bicester Town Oxford North Junction Possible link with Bedford to Bicester Town Bletchley line in single CRP Sittingbourne to Sheerness* Eastern Junction to Sheerness TERFN route†; Significant freight flows Paddock Wood to Strood* Paddock Wood to Strood London Bridge to Uckfield* Hurst Green Junction to Uckfield Eastern England Passenger service Route designated Notes Marks Tey to Sudbury* Marks Tey to Sudbury Wickford to Southminster* Wickford to Southminster Norwich to Sheringham* Whitlingham Junction to Sheringham Norwich to Lowestoft* Brundall to Lowestoft Norwich to Yarmouth via Reedham to Breydon Junction Reedham* Ipswich/Liverpool Street to Westerfield to Oulton Broad Lowestoft* North Junction Bedford to Bletchley Bedford to Bletchley Possible link with Oxford to Bicester line in single CRP Watford Junction to St Albans Pilot project East Midlands Passenger service Route designated Notes Derby to Matlock* Ambergate Junction to Matlock Crewe/Nottingham to Skegness Allington Junction to Skegness Pilot project Yorkshire and Humberside Passenger service Route designated Notes Middlesbrough to Whitby* Guisborough Junction to Whitby Pilot project Sheffield to Huddersfield* Barnsley to Huddersfield Pilot project Cleethorpes to Barton on Humber Ulceby to Barton on Humber Hull to Scarborough* Springbank North Junction to Seamer Leeds to Goole Hensall Junction to Potters Grange Junction Leeds to Morecambe* Settle Junction to Carnforth † Trans European Rail Freight Network route North East Passenger service Route designated Notes Saltburn to Bishop Auckland* Darlington to Bishop Auckland Middlesbrough to Whitby* Guisborough Junction to Whitby Pilot project; also appears in Yorkshire and Humberside region North West Passenger service Route designated Notes Chester to Manchester Piccadilly* Mickle Trafford Junction to Edgeley Junction Chester to Manchester via Chester to Acton Grange Significant freight flows Warrington Junction Helsby to Ellesmere Port Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton* Hazel Grove to Buxton Bolton to Blackburn Preston to Ormskirk* Farrington Curve Junction to Ormskirk Manchester Airport and Wigan Wallgate to Southport Rochdale to Southport* Rochdale to Kirkby Wigan Wallgate to Kirkby Blackpool South to Colne Blackpool South to Kirkham and Gannow Junction to Colne Leeds/Lancaster to Heysham Hest Bank South Junction to Heysham Manchester Vic to Clitheroe Daisyfield Junction to Hellifield Diversionary route and Hellifield (seasonal)* Barrow to Carlisle Significant freight flows Manchester Airport/Oxenholme to Windermere Wales Passenger service Route designated Notes Cardiff to Maesteg Llynvi Junction to Maesteg Machynlleth to Barmouth/Pwllheli* Dovey Junction to Pwllheli Shrewsbury to Swansea* Craven Arms to Morlais Junction Occasional diversionary route (Heart of Wales Line) Wrexham Central to Bidston* Wrexham Central to Bidston Significant freight flows Birmingham to Chester* Shrewsbury to Saltney Junction Significant freight flows Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog* Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog † Trans European Rail Freight Network route West Midlands Passenger service Route designated Notes Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town Coventry to Nuneaton Diversionary and TERFN route†; significant freight flows Crewe to Nottingham/Skegness* Stoke on Trent to North Stafford Junction 11 RMT news – Train crew Pay deal for Wessex Trains conductors RMT has negotiated a basic increase of 3.35 per cent backdated to April 2004. This rise incorporates a commitment to undertake training and other duties for Avantix, including chip and pin payments plus other associated functions. The company will discuss any on- going productivity issues as part of agreed timetabled productivity talks that will conclude by March 15, 2005. Negotiations on restructuring are to begin at the next sectional council meeting. Regional Railways’, which clearly outlined how train staffing could be reduced on such services. ACORP have suggested the possibility of introducing mirrors and CCTV in the cab to allow drivers to operate the doors. It goes on to claim that “there are options to remove the safety requirement for a conductor”. It also suggests the introduction of enhanced radio services to locate stranded trains and the need to relax rules on the basis of risk assessment. “There is also the option of fitting trains with tracking devices common on secure delivery vans and other road vehicles, which would alert a control centre on actuation of a driver vigilance system or passenger alarm,” it suggests. Assistant general secretary Pat Sikorski said that such plans, combined with other attacks, put fresh pressure on role of the guards agreements made in 2001. He said that the importance of the guard’s safety role was again tragically underlined by the terrible crash in November, in which seven people – including the driver – lost their lives. “Like Ladbroke Grove five years ago, the surviving train crew played a crucial role in the aftermath of the crash. “We should never forget that these disputes are not just about jobs, but about the safety of everyone that uses the railways,” he said. Pat said that members should study the list of proposed Community Rail lines by region (opposite) and be vigilant to any plans to de-staff and run down the lines and to tell the union. The unions believes that these private companies cannot be allowed to alter the role and responsibilities of the guard by stealth in the pursuit of profit.