Independent rail safety body concludes “no increased risk” from driver-only-operation

Southern Railway has responded to a statement from the independent Rail Safety & Standards Board that driver-only-operation (DOO) offers “no increased risk” compared to train operation with a conductor closing the doors.

RSSB added that DOO could, in fact, “potentially deliver some safety benefits”, due to the removal of the risk of miscommunication between driver and guard.

Responding to the RSSB statement, reported by BBC South this evening, Dyan Crowther, Chief Operating Officer, commented:

“The RSSB statement is clear and unambiguous. Not only is DOO safe, it could even be safer than having the conductor closing the doors.

“Following the conclusions of this independent safety body, we call on RMT to cease their alarmist scaremongering about safety. Their claims have always been bogus, and now that is clear for all to see.”

Under DOO train operation, the train driver both opens and closes the doors. They do so assisted by modern technology such as in-cab CCTV which allows them to clearly see all train doors as they do so.

A video illustrating DOO operation is available here: https://youtu.be/f8mTnS03AyU and is available for download here:https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B37S24j3JgC7OXItYnFWUVdCNTA

With conductor-operated-doors, from a single vantage point on the platform the conductor has to look in two directions at the same time whilst simultaneously operating the door closure equipment.

Southern’s plans retain the second member of staff on trains, but refocus their role towards offering passengers hands-on, direct customer service rather than being tied to the task of operating the doors which has been rendered obsolete by technology.

The full statement from RSSB, revealed on BBC South this evening, is as follows:

“RSSB (and its predecessor organisation “Rail Safety”) have carried out a number of detailed research projects into various aspects of Driver Only Operation on passenger trains over the past 15 years. None of these pieces of work has identified any increased risk from dispatching a train without a guard being present - providing the correct procedures have been followed. The removal of any possible miscommunication, which could exist between driver and guard could, potentially, deliver some safety benefits.

“As part of our work under the industry-wide Platform Train Interface strategy, RSSB provides training and guidance for staff and safety information for passengers to help reduce the risks of accidents occurring when people board or alight from trains. We are currently running a number of projects which will provide further independent research, guidance and tools to help our members better manage those risks and to improve performance at the same time.”

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