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Exclusive Axing of guards needs consensus, says train boss

Conrad Landin reports from Glasgow

RAIL bosses seeking to axe guards from trains should not impose changes on workers and their unions, ScotRail chief executive Alex Hynes has suggested.

The Morning Star can reveal today that Mr Hynes has called on bosses to “take our people and their representatives with us.”

His comments were welcomed by rail union RMT leader Mick Cash, who called on operators still in dispute over the issue to “get out of the bunker.”

South Western Railway (SWR) and Northern are pressing ahead with plans to extend driver-only operation, which removes the guarantee of a second member of operational staff on board trains.

ScotRail was embroiled in a similar dispute in 2016. But after negotiations between unions and management, ScotRail backed down and guaranteed that guards would remain responsible for closing train doors — meaning trains cannot run without their presence. Drivers are responsible for opening the doors on the new fleet.

At a fringe meeting at the SNP conference on Monday, Mr Hynes was asked by the Morning Star if he would advise operators south of the border to follow his company’s lead.

He replied: “I wasn’t here, at ScotRail, when the dispute happened. Essentially, we’re trying to modernise the railway and the way we operate it, and we need to take our people and their representatives with us.

“I’m pleased I’m here in Scotland so I can focus on all the good stuff.”

Following a 2009 government-commissioned report recommending the expansion of driver-only operation, a number of Britain’s rail operators have axed the guarantee of a guard.

Rail unions and commuter groups have raised concerns over passenger safety and access for elderly and disabled passengers.

Southern compounded pre-existing commuter chaos on its network with a lengthy dispute that has seen dozens of strike days.

But the RMT has now secured deals to end disputes with Greater Anglia and Merseyrail, two other companies which had sought to extend driver-only operation. And the Welsh government announced that the next franchise covering the principality will include a commitment to the presence of a guard.

RMT general secretary Mr Cash said: “Any train operator that doesn’t take its staff with it and respect their views on key issues like safety and access is basically seeking confrontation and ignoring those who know best how to run a railway in the public interest.

“It remains the case that companies like [Northern] and SWR are choosing to ignore the best practice on the guard guarantee that prevails across Scotland and Wales.

“It’s about time those operators got out of the bunker and opened up serious talks.”

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