South Western
South Western Railway pledges to retain second member of staff, but drivers could have to operate doors.
THE head of the franchise which takes over from South West Trains on August 20 has promised that all trains will have a second member of staff on board.
However, South Western Railway’s Managing Director Andy Mellors told RAIL that working practices are likely to change. That is expected to mean drivers operating the doors on a fleet of 90 new trains.
“We are committed to retention of a second person on our trains,” said Mellors.
“But as with any new train there are different ways of operation. Our bid didn’t rely on DriverControlled Operation - it was not mandated in the Department for Transport’s Invitation to Tender.
“But customers have made it clear they appreciate having someone on board to assist them, and we will retain a second person on every train.”
South Western Railway is to get 90 Bombardier trains (a total of 750 carriages), built in Derby and scheduled for delivery between summer 2019 and autumn 2020. The trains will add 22,000 seats into Waterloo in the morning peak, and replace all existing suburban rolling stock.
Mellors said decisions on crewing would only be taken after First MTR takes over the franchise, with nearly 5,000 South West Trains staff transferring to the new employer. He promised to work collaboratively with them, and involve the unions from the outset.
“We are not committed at this moment to any specific method of operation,” he added. “There are options, and we will work for the best possible outcome for our customers.”
Mellors was appointed as managing director in early July, starting work just six weeks before the handover. Previously he was deputy managing director at Great Western Railway, where he oversaw a deal with the RMT and ASLEF unions to ensure DriverControlled Operation on outersuburban services running as far as Newbury and Oxford, including on new Hitachi express trains where they replace existing diesel multiple units.
“We developed some good relationships. We worked on early engagement and we were very transparent, giving the opportunity for union representatives to see the new kit, understand it and dispel any myths. I have no intention to cause huge disruption enacting these changes, and I hope we can have a positive working relationship to get the benefits of our £1.2 billion investment implemented as smoothly as possible.”
Does that mean he is looking for DCO on all new inner and outersuburban services as new trains are delivered from 2019?
“I think you might reasonably conclude that. As I say, we are not wedded to any one method of operation.”
The longer-distance trains - Siemens Class 444 and ‘450’ units, refurbished Class 442s and the Class 158/9 trains on the West of England Line - all require guards to operate the train doors.
Mellors’ first priority is to get through the Waterloo blockade, which is running from August 5-28. There will be no formal launch of the new operation until that is complete.
“We change nothing in the first week or two. The train plan has been done by the incumbent. The controls, the mitigations, the contracts for rail replacement services, interoperability agreements with Transport for London have all been done for the entirety of the blockade. We won’t be changing stuff around.”
South Western Railway branding will appear on the website from the first day, but not on the trains. The greatest disruption at Waterloo is expected in the days immediately after the new company takes over.
Currently ten of the 19 platforms at Waterloo are closed, with severe service disruption (see story, pages 8-9). But in the final days, 14 platforms will be closed, with no services at all at many suburban stations.
Mellors told RAIL: “We will inherit one single package of works. Monday September 4 is the first full week back after the summer holidays, and that’s when we will launch the brand in full.”
He defended the decision to replace all suburban stock - including Siemens Class 707s which only enter service this autumn, and which will be two years old when they are displaced. Class 458s on the Reading line will be removed, despite a major refurbishment two years ago. All older Class 455 and ‘456’ trains will also go.
Mellors said the average age of the franchise fleet will be halved, with a consistent provision in terms of train toilets, air-conditioning, WiFi and at-seat power.
He also confirmed plans to halve the number of direct Weymouth to Waterloo services. Currently the Dorset resort has two trains an hour - one will be replaced by a south coast Weymouth to Portsmouth train. West of Poole, there is insufficient power supply to run a third service.
He told RAIL: “We think it will stimulate additional crossSouthampton journeys. It will introduce an extra train every hour between Portsmouth and Southampton - you know how badly congested the M27 motorway gets at peak times. Flipping the journey leg beyond Southampton from London to Portsmouth will also provide rolling stock efficiencies we can exploit.”
The move is unlikely to be popular in a seaside resort that relies on summer rail traffic, as the road links through Dorset are notoriously poor. Mellors said that peak direct services from intermediate stations to London would not be lost in the switch.
South Western is close to signing a contract to refurbish 18 five-car Class 442 Wessex Electrics for the Portsmouth-Waterloo route. As well as a complete interior overhaul, the 90 vehicles will receive new traction equipment.
“British Rail built these trains by recycling some very old machinery,” said Mellors. “We have already placed a letter of intent for new traction motors, traction control and camshafts, and some upgrades to the braking and wheel slide equipment.”
He said the motivation was a clear passenger view that the current Class 450 Siemens Desiro trains (with 3+2 seating layout) were inappropriate for the length of journey.
The Wessex Electric ‘Plastic Pigs’ were designed in the 1980s for Bournemouth services and have a 2+2 layout. South Western Railway promises “as new” improvements. The stock has been in storage since being dropped from Gatwick Express duties last year. For a full interview with Andy Mellors, see RAIL 834.