KEEPING GUARDS ON TRAINS
- Session: 2013-14
- Date tabled: 16.07.2013
- Primary sponsor:
- Sponsors:
That this House welcomes the work of train guards in helping ensure the safe operation of trains and also providing passenger assistance and reassurance; notes that guards play a vital role in protecting the train and acting in emergencies such as driver incapacity, failure of train safety systems and derailments; further notes that guards are vital for women and disabled and older people to feel more secure when using trains and providing assistance with access onto and onboard trains; further welcomes the broad support for retaining staff on trains from the TUC, the Women's Institute, National Pensioners Convention and disability groups; is very concerned therefore that London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (LOROL) which operates London Overground rail services on behalf of Transport for London has announced that it intends to sack all its guards and run the trains as driver-only operation; is also concerned that as LOROL is a 50/50 joint venture company between Deutsche Bahn AG (DB) and MTR Corporation the safety and comfort of London train passengers is being compromised to support profits going to German and Hong Kong state railways; and calls on the Mayor of London to intervene to ensure guards are retained on London Overground services.