Written evidence submitted by Mr Christopher Grose (RLS0004)

 

  1. My interest in this subject has arisen following the decision of Southern to introduce additional driver only operation on their network and amend the guard role on thse services from guards to a new role called OBS.
  2. The RMT union have claimed that the change will have an adverse effect on safety whilst Southern claim it won’t.  Southern point to a RSSB report that apparently states that DOO is no less safe and there might be occasions where it is safer.  However the RSSB incorporates a number of representatives from the train operating companies which would not appear to be best practice if one wants to be considered independent.
  3. I have been unable to find that report and consider it in detail and have therefore look further in to the issues.
  4. Neither the RMT not Southern appear to have produced statistics in accidents involving DOO trains against those with guards.
  5. It appears that the guard has a number of safety roles on the train, one of these involves dispatch, but the others involves the safety of the train and passengers in the event of an accident.
  6. The number of accidents is of course low although the recent incident at the tunnel mouth near Watford demonstrates that we can never me too complacent.  The RAIB report in to that incident has yet to be produced, but it would appear to have involved a train with a guard and perhaps that should be investigated to see if their presence had a beneficial impact on the outcome.
  7. However the time that most passengers will experience the safety role of the guard is on dispatch from the platform.  I have been unable to find statistics relating to incidents on dispatch and which system is safer and request that the committee seeks this information and investigates the truth as to whether the two forms of dispatch are equally safe, or whether one is safer than the other.
  8. The only reference to the safety of dispatch I have been able to find is RAIB accident reports and therefore I comment on these in brief but request that the committee investigates further
  9. Hayes and Harlington – this incident involved a driver operated only train and a passenger became trapped in the doors and was dragged on the platform until they fell through.  The report identifies that the driver should have noticed the trapped person prior to departure
  10. West Wickham – DOO train.
  11. Newastle Central Station – Train with guard
  12. Charing Cross – DOO train.
  13. James St Station Liverpool – Train with guard
  14. Kings Cross – DOO train.
  15. Brentwood station – DOO train
  16. These reports do not include investigations concerning London Underground trains.
  17. It appears that there are more incidents with DOO trains and it may be relevant that in one case involving a guard the guard was prisoned, and in the other the a case against the guard is due to attend court.  DOO trains apparently make up 30% of train journeys but appear to have more incidents.
  18. It may be that the low number of accidents demonstrate systems are safe and working, although I would suggest one accident is one too many.
  19. However I would be grateful if the committee could investigate and publish their outcome.

 

October 2016