A driver’s view
Even though four in five drivers on Southern voted to accept a deal which will entail an increase in Driver Only Operation, ASLEF continues to claim the practice is unsafe.
The rail regulator has consistently stated that DOO is at least as safe as platform dispatch by a guard. One in three main line services is worked by DOO, and no passenger has died as a result of this method of operation. Throughout the 20-month dispute, the unions have not produced any new evidence to undermine the regulator’s view.
Nevertheless, drivers maintain an honestly held opinion that it is less safe. One driver with experience of London commuter services contacted RAIL to explain.
“I have worked Driver Only trains. It is an inherently unsafe practice. The automatic carriage doors on most modern trains are interlocked with the driver controls, such that power cannot be taken to move the train with the doors open. But it is by no means foolproof.
“There have been a few occurrences where a passenger has made a last-minute dash for the closing doors, failed to board successfully, but got a limb or an item of clothing trapped inside the closed doors. The interlock fails to register the obstruction, the driver takes power and the train departs, dragging the passenger along the platform.
“Admittedly such incidents also occur on trains with a guard. However, with a guard there is a much greater chance of them being able to intervene. With DOO, once the driver has looked away from the CCTV platform monitors, his task is to look ahead.
“Drivers are also pretty much powerless to intervene in on-board hooliganism, sexual assault or to help disabled people.
“The guards have been betrayed by ASLEF. My former union has lost all credibility in my eyes. In the event of an increase in passenger injuries at the platform-train interface, it will be interesting to see whether ASLEF is prepared to support the unfortunate drivers involved.” ■ The former ASLEF member now drives for Freightliner at Eastleigh depot, so was not involved in any of the current disputes. He was talking to Paul Clifton.