SOUTHERN RAIL’S “CHAOTIC AND LETHAL” AXING OF GUARDS

R MT has called on the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) to halt the operational programme that fundamentally changes the role of the guard on Southern Rail. There is growing evidence that that this new model is unleashing chaos and confusion at the Platform/Train interface which could have lethal consequences. Parent company Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) was originally proposing to remove any responsibility for door operation from the new On- Board Supervisor (OBS) role and also any safety critical function, including involvement with train dispatch. But now the company has now issued new instructions that OBS staff must check the platform to ensure that passengers with any accessibility needs are able to board the train and leave the train. The OBS must also take control of the train doors to assist in this process. It also states that there will be “exceptional circumstances” there will be no OBS staff will be on the train to carry out such duties. The union has asked what exactly is the role of OBS staff and who is meant to be doing what on the platform/train interface? Moreover as this new procedure is critical to ensure passengers requiring assistance can safely board the train why are they allowing trains to run SOUTHERN RAIL’S “CHAOTIC AND LETHAL” AXING OF GUARDS RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december :: RMTnews 4