Driver-only operation: the confusing issue dividing the nation’s railways

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ScotRail staff who belong to the RMT union are to be balloted for strike motion over driver-only operation (DOO) trains. The union says the rail operator, run by the Scottish authorities, will permit some routes in the Glasgow space to run with no second member of employees – at the discretion of the driver.

The RMT says greater than 100 conductors who shall be affected by ScotRail’s plans shall be balloted.

The common secretary, Mick Lynch says: “ScotRail are trying to sneak through DOO via the back door by putting train drivers in a difficult position, giving them the power to decide whether a train runs or not without a second staff member on board.

“It is important for safety and the comfort of passengers that a second person is on these ScotRail services. We will resist all attempts to endanger our members jobs.”

The Independent has requested ScotRail for a response.

Last yr, Mr Lynch advised MPs on the transport choose committee: “We will never sign up to accepting DOO.

“It will never happen while I am general secretary. It will never happen as long as the RMT exists.”

That may give the impression the idea is new. In truth, many trains have been operated by a single particular person since the Eighties. Every day, tens of millions of passengers journey on trains the place the solely member of employees on board is sitting at the entrance – primarily on short-distance journeys in Greater London, but additionally on some journeys of over 100 miles.

There is, although, no coherence. Between Brighton and Gatwick Airport, for instance, Thameslink trains have solely a driver on board, however Southern trains serving precisely the similar stations at all times have an on-board supervisor as effectively.

The two manufacturers are each operated by the similar organisation, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), however with totally different staffing agreements.

These are the key questions and solutions about this complicated and contentious issue.

What is driver-only operation?

Strictly, when the solely employees member engaged on a practice is the driver. He or she opens and closes the doorways, with cameras put in to make sure that the operation could be performed safely.

DOO is a subset of driver-controlled operation (DCO). This covers all trains on which the driver opens and closes the doorways. But on a DCO practice that’s not DOO, there may be a number of members of employees on boardperforming different duties. This is the association on, for instance, Lumo providers linking Edinburgh and Newcastle with London King’s Cross.

Where does DOO exist at current?

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing practice companies, says that DOO is the regular mode of operation on 45 per cent of UK trains – and that these trains carry 55 per cent of passengers nationwide.

On Britain’s largest rail franchise, GTR, all Thameslink and Great Northern trains are driver-only operation, together with routes from Peterborough to Horsham (118 miles), Brighton to Bedford (103 miles) and London King’s Cross to King’s Lynn (99 miles).

Within the similar franchise, Southern trains largely inside Greater London are DOO, however longer-distance providers – and Gatwick Express trains – at all times have an on-board supervisor.

The blended sample is repeated elsewhere. On Southeastern, linking central London with Kent and East Sussex, metro providers are driver-only whereas longer-distance trains (together with the high-speed) line at all times have an on-board supervisor or conductor/guard.

What’s the distinction between an on-board supervisor and conductor/guard?

An on-board supervisor doesn’t open or shut the doorways. They are liable for customer support on board and have security coaching in case of emergencies.

A conductor/guard opens and closes (or typically solely closes) the doorways in addition to offering customer support.

On South Western Railway, linking London Waterloo with Surrey, Hampshire and past, at present the guard opens and closes the doorways. But new and much-delayed “Arterio” trains can have DCO with a second member of employees on board all trains.

So there are some trains the place the driver opens the doorways however the conductor/guard closes them?

Many. “Driver opens, conductor closes” (DOCC) is normal on all Great Western Railway high-speed providers linking London Paddington with South Wales and the West of England; shorter distances to and from the capital are driver-only.

DOCC applies on ScotRail trains linking Glasgow and Edinburgh through Falkirk; different electrical trains on the Scottish community are DCO, however the quick hyperlink between Scotland’s two largest cities is roofed by an outdated settlement relationship to when it used diesel trains.

LNER, which runs from London King’s Cross to Yorkshire, northeast England and Scotland, has DOCC on its new Azuma trains, however on older 225 rolling inventory the practice supervisor opens and closes the doorways.

What is the pondering behind ‘Driver opens, conductor closes’?

The principle is that the driver has a transparent view arriving at a station that each one is effectively, and she or he can safely open the doorways. But by having a guard closing the doorways permits them to get a greater view, up and down the platform.

Is driver-only operation secure?

Not based on the rail unions. Mick Lynch of the RMT says growth of DOO “will make our railways less safe, secure and accessible”.

Mick Whelan, common secretary of the practice drivers’ union, Aslef, says “The train drivers who do it, hate it, feel it’s unsafe. We believe it’s inherently unsafe.”

But in 2018 the Rail Safety and Standards Board concluded :”Driver dispatch of trains is definitely secure based on all standards.”

The Office of Rail and Road additionally investigated the apply in 2017 and concluded it “fully meets legal requirements for safe operation” – as long as “suitable equipment, procedures and competent staff” are in place.

What about security for girls travelling alone and passengers who want help?

Public safety and incapacity entry are extraordinarily necessary points that want wider dialogue.

In 2013 the Transport Select Committee stated: “We are very concerned that proposals to reduce staffing at stations and on trains could make the railway less safe, particularly at night, and deter women and vulnerable users from travelling by train.

“We recommend the government develops a strategy for improving the security of the rail network, as well as perceptions of how safe the network is.”

Ideally each practice would have on-board employees and each station could be staffed. This would undoubtedly enhance passenger confidence and enhance provision for much less in a position travellers.

But the rail trade is at present shedding billions of kilos annually and is being propped up by taxpayers’ money.

The view from successive governments has lengthy been {that a} steadiness must be struck between look after rail customers and the value to public funds.

Do the authorities and practice companies need to make issues worse?

That is actually the message from the unions. But when the RDG introduced its pay supply to the RMT in December 2022, contingent on wider acceptance of DOO (a situation imposed by ministers), it appeared that in reality it was urging DCO. The organisation harassed: “It does not mean removing staff from onboard trains. It allows staff on board to focus on other safety issues and looking after customers on board with journey advice, selling tickets etc.

“A move to DOO – where drivers operate the doors on all carriages – will lead to greater punctuality and reliability, particularly during disruption when staff can be delayed on incoming trains, stopping other services departing.”

What does the opposition say?

The Labour Party has pledged to convey the rail trade into public possession, saying: “We don’t want the government to be putting tens of millions of pounds into the pockets of operators who then pass it on to shareholders.”

The Independent has requested the celebration for a response.