Labour Research November 2017

Health & Safety Matters

Train guards


Rail union RMT has welcomed the announcement by Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones that the next Wales & Borders franchise will keep the safety-critical guard on all trains, and described it as a “breakthrough” in its campaign for a safe, secure and accessible railway. 


But the union has also warned that, if they go ahead, plans for the introduction of driver-only operation on Northern Rail trains could make 330 unstaffed stations crime hot spots and no-go areas for vulnerable and disabled passengers. 


It says that removing the guard from trains that also travel through unstaffed stations will result in a “cocktail of dangers”.

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/wales-to-retain-safety-critical-guards