Transpennine Express - Training

Circular: NP/116/24

2^nd May 2024

To: The Secretary

ALL MARITIME BRANCHES

REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague

 

TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS - TRAINING

 

            I received correspondence from the Lead Officer following his meeting with the employer expressing concerns which remain in respect of 802 static training being completed on alternative 800 traction.

 

At its meeting on 30^th April 2024, your National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety Sub-committee:

 

We note the report from the Lead Officer and the correspondence on file. 

 

This National Executive Committee is appalled at the unsafe situation that has arisen on Transpennine Express and the serious consequences this will have not only for our guards but also the travelling public. We also note the poor responses from Transpennine Express management when this concerning matter was brought to their attention. 

 

We instruct the General Secretary to write to the Office of Rail and Road and the Rail Safety Standards Board outlining our serious concerns about Transpennine Express unsafe training practices. 

 

The Transpennine Express managing director is also to be written to confirming that this practice has ceased otherwise we may enter into a dispute situation with the company. 

 

Transpennine Express management need to work with our union and Health & Safety representatives to identify all guards who have been incorrectly trained on LNER units and that they need to be stood down from Class 802 work and retrained on Class 802s until they are competent. Those who have already been identified need to be stood down and retrained immediately. 

 

The General Secretary is to get the matter raised in parliament by the RMT parliamentary group on why Transpennine Express have been engaging in unsafe practices. As well as ignoring collective bargaining and our representatives. 

 

This matter is also to be referred to our Health & Safety sub-committee for further detailed examination and report. 

 

Relevant members, Branches and Regional Councils to be informed. 

 

I am acting in line with these instructions.

 

Please bring this circular to the attention of all relevant members.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary