NO EXTENSION OF DRIVER-ONLY OPERATION AT SET

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: january 2008 :: RMTnews 5 R MT has made clear its opposition to Southeastern Trains plans to extend driver- only operation (DOO) with the introduction of new Hitachi 395 trains (right). The company wants to operate with DOO in existing, currently guard-operated routes and in the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) from Ebbsfleet to St Pancras. But RMT will not stand for any dilution of the guard’s operational role and safety responsibilities. Detailed talks are due to start between the union and management in order to discuss management’s proposed new job titles and job description for the guards’ role. However, RMT reps will maintain the union’s current agreement of no extension of DOO and that the guard must maintain control of the power- operated doors. Southeastern claims that cost prevents the reconfiguration of the trains to maintain guard operation have been rebuffed by RMT general secretary Bob Crow, who points out that Hitachi fits out the trains according to SET’s own specification. “RMT will maintain its fundamental position of no extension of DOO and a continuation of guard control of power-operated doors,” pledged Bob. “We indicated that if management was prepared to re-affirm these agreements then we could discuss adding new duties to the conductor’s job description, but that we would stand by the irreducible core of the conductors’ role,” he said. Safety will be even more important in the tunnel section west of Ebbsfleet. The 395s will run on routes via Ebsfleet through three tunnel sections to St Pancras. Evacuation procedures in this part of the CTRL follow the same principles as the running of the Eurostar in the Channel Tunnel – namely five staff trained in tunnel evacuation with two of those able to drive the train out in an emergency. Eurostar trains carry 800 passengers and it would be impossible to contain that many passengers safely without the currently agreed number of evacuation trained staff. RMT has written to Eurostar seeking undertakings that it will not in any way reduce current safe staffing levels on their services in light of joint running with the Hitachi stock on the CTRL. Problems that can arise from DOO were recently highlighted at CrossCountry Trains, formerly run by Virgin and now operated by Arriva. A recent confidential train drivers’ survey revealed that a number of drivers had released the doors on the wrong side of a platform and others had released doors at a red signal and when the train was not correctly positioned on the platform. These Wrong-Side Door Enable incidents highlight exactly why any extension of DOO is unsafe and opposed by the union. NO EXTENSION OF DRIVER-ONLY OPERATION AT SET RMT warns Southeastern Trains against extension of driver-only operation