Train managers strike over East West Rail safety roles

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 13:02 · Archive

Train managers employed by Chiltern Railways are striking on Saturday over the safety-critical role of a second staff member on East West Rail services.

Train managers employed by Chiltern Railways will strike for 24 hours on Saturday, the second stoppage in an ongoing dispute over the £7bn East West Rail project. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union is opposing what it calls driver-only operation on the new services between Oxford and Milton Keynes, arguing that the proposed role of the second staff member on board is not genuinely safety-critical.

Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the RMT, said: 'Driver-only operation represents an unacceptable weakening of safety standards and threatens the vital role train managers play in protecting passengers and ensuring the safe operation of services.' He added that Chiltern management had failed to address members' legitimate concerns.

Chiltern Railways responded that it is disappointed by the industrial action and that the vast majority of services will run normally. Tony Baxter, interim managing director, said: 'Every East West Rail service will have two people on board – the driver, and a colleague looking after passengers.' The East West Rail project will eventually create direct links from Oxford and Bicester to Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.

How it is being reported

• Fresh strike in ongoing £7bn East West Rail rowTrain managers are set to strike again in an ongoing dispute over safety on the £7bn line.Oxford Mail · 16 Oct, 12:30
• Fresh strike in ongoing £7bn East West Rail rowTrain managers are set to strike again in an ongoing dispute over safety on the £7bn line.Oxfordshire Guardian · 16 Oct, 12:30

In this story: Rail, Maritime and Transport union · Chiltern Railways · Eddie Dempsey · Tony Baxter · East West Rail · Oxford · Milton Keynes · Cambridge

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