RMT secures victory in campaign to retain full operational role for guards on the East Coast Main Line – fight stepped up on Scotrail

Publication Date: January 19 2010

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that an agreement has been reached with management that ensures a guard will remain fully in charge of the opening and closing of the doors on the class 180 trains running on the East Coast Main Line in what the union sees as an important victory in the fight against DOO (Driver Only Operation).

RMT welcomed the breakthrough on the protection of the role of the guards on the East Coast route as “an important milestone in the battle against Driver Only Operation and hugely significant in terms of our on-going fight to retain guards on the new Scotrail Edinburgh/Glasgow via Airdrie to Bathgate route.”

RMT is preparing a ballot on Scotrail over the failure of the company to accept the overwhelming financial and safety case for retaining guards.

Following representations made by RMT representatives the five class 180 trains currently forming part of the East Coast fleet have been modified to ensure that guards control all aspects of door operation. The negotiators were also able to get a guarantee from East Coast that they do not intend to operate these trains under DOO (Driver Only Operation) or to transfer any element of door control to the driver.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary said today

“Our success on protecting the role of guards on the East Coast Main Line is a great victory in our continuing campaign to have guards on all trains and the fight to ensure that these key staff should retain full operational and safety duties.

“This is a campaign supported by the public and the East Coast success will put pressure on other Train Operating Companies to follow suit and particularly Scotrail on their new Edinburgh/Glasgow via Airdrie to Bathgate route."