11 December 2017
RMT Press Office:
RMT welcomes key Rail North representatives’ opposition to Driver Only trains on Northern Rail services.
RAIL UNION RMT has welcomed support from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which covers Leeds Council, York Council, Bradford Council, Calderdale Council, Kirklees Council and Wakefield Council for RMT’s campaign to keep the Guard on Northern rail services.
The support is all the more significant as the authority is a key component of Rail North, the body that jointly oversees the Northern Franchise with the Department for Transport, and means that councils in the vast majority of Rail North areas are opposed to Driver Only Operation, (see list in notes to editors below). In fact, there is not one council in the North that has voted to support driver only trains on Arriva Rail North services.
The Chair of the combined authority’s transport committee, Cllr Keith Wakefield, has written that:
“The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has supported RMT’s concern for passenger safety under the proposed driver only operation.”
“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 deal in Scotland kept the guarantee of guards on new modern trains and resolved a long running dispute.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“We welcome this latest round of political support for our campaign to keep the Guard on the train in the north. 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.
“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. It is time for Chris Grayling and the government in London to stop blocking a resolution of this dispute in the North.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
List of councils in Rail North areas that are opposed to Driver Only Operation
Liverpool City Council
Sheffield City Council
Newcastle City Council
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Doncaster Council
Sefton Council
Salford
Durham County Council
Lancashire County Council
City of York
Carlisle City Council
Cumbria County Council
Redcar and Cleveland
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