Is everyone supporting the train drivers?

[El Cid]

Government ministers such as Chris Grayling and Anna Soubry have been furious this week about the railway strikes, saying: “These strikes INCONVENIENCE people.”

 

Isnt it the MPs that are responsible for the train strike?

 

Chris Grayling suggested we could ban transport strikes; the strike is being used to attack Jeremy Corbyn, its been used as a political statement, instead of solving it.

How hard can it be, just employ a driver and a guard; even some buses have two members of staff.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/mark-steel-southern-rail-chris-grayling-transport-misery-train-cancellations-a7477836.html

[tinfoilhat]

It's the train company and drivers that are responsible for the strike. Southern Rail, the comedy outfit they are, want drivers to close doors, the union want guards to do it.

 

Pick a side.

[El Cid]

It's the train company and drivers that are responsible for the strike. Southern Rail, the comedy outfit they are, want drivers to close doors, the union want guards to do it.

 

Pick a side.

 

Its is the Government that are forcing train companies to enforce the recommendations of the McNulty report. Its all about saving money; but the train companies are happy with 2 members of staff per train.

 

This report made recommendations for the future of rail transport in Great Britain, specifically looking at reducing costs and the franchising system put in place following the privatisation of British Rail.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/4203/realising-the-potential-of-gb-rail-summary.pdf

[biotechpete]

Many trains operate perfectly well with no 'guard' per se. For the west coast mainline they have train managers and people on the station platform checking it's safe to depart. It speeds up the departure process because you don't have to wait for the guard to board the train after the doors have closed. AFAIK southern don't want to remove the guard's job, just change the role in a similar way to this.

[WestTinsley]

Many trains operate perfectly well with no 'guard' per se. For the west coast mainline they have train managers and people on the station platform checking it's safe to depart. It speeds up the departure process because you don't have to wait for the guard to board the train after the doors have closed. AFAIK southern don't want to remove the guard's job, just change the role in a similar way to this.

Makes you wonder why they are going on strike.

Edited December 15, 2016 by WestTinsley

[I1L2T3]

Why not support them? They are raising what are legitimate public safety concerns. This isn't the 8.42 from Sheffield to nowheresville, but seriously overcrowded commuter services running through archaic stations through the SE which is basically one massive major population centre.

 

If somebody got killed because the train didn't have a guard the right-wing nutjobs would want the train driver's head on a spike. Simply because it is the job of a right-wing nutjob to be angry about anything that they think simply just isn't right.

[El Cid]

It speeds up the departure process because you don't have to wait for the guard to board the train after the doors have closed. AFAIK southern don't want to remove the guard's job, just change the role in a similar way to this.

 

In order for the person controlling the doors to stay on the train, cameras covering the other end of the train would be needed. That would take years and cost millions, cameras are less safe.

The driverless trains that operate now are shorter and in modern stations(with station staff).

Southern are happy to keep guards, its the Government enforcing the terms of the franchise. Southern are being bailed out with Government funds, otherwise the cancelled trains would mean Southern would be fined millions.

Without the help of the Government, Southern would have thrown the towel in months ago.

Edited December 16, 2016 by willman

[willman]

No.

Get a life and get back to work.

I hope Southern do throw in the towel, then a new provider will be found and if TUPE is in place the staff will have to follow the rules of the new train company, almost all of which do exactly as Sothern are trying to incorporate.

 

Mean while the public are losing jobs and wages - the striking staff will just take advantage of overtime to recompense them for the losses during strike action.

 

Now the loss of monies that are due is despicable - so lets support the Argos drivers (actually the Wincanton employees but don't let that spoil the headline)

Edited December 16, 2016 by willman

[Bob Arctor]

I notice it's an issue now the drivers are on strike. As one passenger group representative has pointed out, Southern services have been unreliable every day this year, not just during the strike. They should have been striped of their contract but the government has done nothing to help passengers, they're only bothered now that Aslef are on strike.

[The Joker]

these rail companies take £billions in your taxes, my taxes, our taxes every year.

 

On top of this, they happily overcharge the unfortunate mugs passengers who use their "service".

 

Surely the rail companies can afford to employ one or two more people per train? After all, there's plenty of unemployed people who could do the job ?