POTENTIAL DISPUTE OVER WHO OPENS AND SHUTS TRAIN DOORS
Wednesday 13 January 2010
ScotRail today said it is extremely disappointed that the RMT intends to ballot some of its members on industrial action over who will open and shut the train doors on the new £300m Airdrie-Bathgate line.
The train operator warned any such action would cause disruption to customers – and stressed that it will provide as robust a service as possible should the worst case scenario materialise.
ScotRail has begun training courses for supervisory and management staff on the operational roles of conductors in the event of industrial action.
Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail, said: “I am clearly disappointed with the RMT's stance because the line creates 130 new jobs and the trains will be no different from those which have operated in Strathclyde for 25 years.”
He also said ScotRail has taken every reasonable step to prevent industrial action and is available for further talks at any time.
Mr Montgomery added: “I would also like to assure customers that should there be industrial action, we will do everything to keep services running as normally as possible.”
Airdrie-Bathgate services will have a ticket examiner on board but the RMT wants the second person to be a conductor who would open and close the doors.
The majority of existing ScotRail services already run with driver operated doors and ticket examiners – and have done so in Strathclyde for 25 years.
Mr Montgomery said: “It appears the RMT is now saying these trains are unsafe. But they have run in Strathclyde for decades and are no different from those on the Larkhall branch line which reopened four years ago without objection from the union.
“Nothing changes with the introduction of the new Glasgow-Edinburgh via Bathgate services - where part of the line already has driver door operated trains. Indeed, the majority of all ScotRail journeys are on driver door operated trains – almost 47 million journeys a year.”
It would cost £1.4m to convert the trains for conductors to open and close doors. The modifications would also delay the timing of the new route opening which is scheduled for December.
ScotRail announced last week that it had hoped for a positive meeting but in the meantime had begun training courses for supervisory and management staff on the operational roles of conductors.
The training puts customers first because, despite efforts to avoid industrial action, there is now a clear possibility that it will happen.
Mr Montgomery said: “Our protective plans are designed to provide the travelling public with as robust a service as possible should the worst case scenario materialise.”
The training is safety validated by the company which will also liaise with the Office of Rail Regulation, the independent safety regulator for Britain’s railways.
Media inquiries
Iain Wilson: Tel 0141 335 4565
Notes to editors
The protection of the train is the driver’s responsibility on all ScotRail services regardless of the grade of the second person on board – a ticket examiner or a conductor. In so far as evacuation is concerned, all on board staff are trained in evacuation.
Safety is the key value of our company. The majority of existing ScotRail services already run with driver operated doors and ticket examiners. There would be no question of these trains operating if they were not safe. ScotRail has over 25 years’ experience of running such services.
