11.12.17
Yorkshire authority supports union opposition to DOO trains
The RMT has today welcomed support in their opposition to driver only operated (DOO) trains on Northern Rail services.
The union has received support from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which covers Leeds, Bradford, York, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield councils, for its campaign to keep the guard on Northern Rail services.
The authority is a key component of Rail North, which RMT says makes the support “all the more significant.”
Rail North oversees the Northern Franchise with DfT, which the union claims is evidence that the vast majority of councils in Rail North areas are opposed to DOO, with no councils voting to support the DOO trains on Arrival Rail North services.
In a letter penned to the RMT dated 28 November 2017, Cllr Keith Wakefield, chair of the combined authority's transport committee, said that the authority supports the RMT’s “concern for passenger safety” under the proposed DOO.
“Given the disruption to passengers we have urged that the government intervenes to bring about a fair settlement like they have in Scotland, which gives assurances to vulnerable passengers.”
‘The dispute is between the rail companies and the unions’
But, the WYCA representative also explained that the organisation would not be doing anything to intervene in the situation, adding: “the dispute is between the rail companies and the unions, which means we have no role in the negotiations.”
Nevertheless, RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, welcomed the support for the campaign to keep the guard on the train in the north.
He said: “There is also now opposition to driver only trains in the North from councils in the vast majority of Rail North areas. In fact, we are not aware of one council in the north that has voted to support driver only trains on Arriva Rail North services.”
Cash added: “To protect safety, security and accessibility the Welsh and Scottish Government have already said there will be no expansion of driver only trains on their services and passengers in the North should be treated no differently.
He called on Chris Grayling and the government to “stop blocking a resolution of this dispute in the North.”
Top image: Charlotte Ball PA Wire
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