Privateers bidding to run the 'London Rail Concession' from 2010 have been told by Transport for London that driver-only trains could be operated on the North London and West London lines from December 2011. Trains on both lines are currently guarded.

The invitation to tender, obtained by RMT under freedom of information law, tells bidders: "TfL anticipates the implementation of a system that will support DOO [driver-only operation] operations on the NLL and WLL by December 2011," and adds: "Bidders can set out proposals to broaden the scope of DOO or bring forward its implementation."

TfL intends that the proposed new franchise will include the privatised operations of the East London Line when it re-opens after extension in 2010 - the first privatisation of a London Underground line.

"It will be bad enough if the privateers get their hands on the East London Line, but it beggars belief that they will be given a free hand to remove nearly 100 guards from busy commuter trains just in time for the Olympics," general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"That is absolutely crazy and RMT will fight it all the way.

"The North and West London lines are heavily overcrowded at the best of times, and removing a key safety-critical member of train crew is the opposite of what is needed.

"But doing it when there will be hundreds of thousands of extra people, most of them unfamiliar with the network, travelling in and out of East London every day is absolute, unbridled madness.

"Just about everyone who uses and works on the railways agrees that there is a pressing need for more staff on stations and trains, for security and safety reasons.

"TfL should be planning the return of guards on London Underground and everywhere else they have been removed, not undermining safety even further by taking away those that remain.

"TfL have sought to sell us a vision of Metro services that are safe and secure, but by anyone's standards removing guards will have the opposite effect," Bob Crow said.

ends

Note to editors: The North London Line and the West London Line are currently operated as Silverlink by National Express. Both are to become part of the 'London Rail' franchise, which TfL intends will also include the privatised operations of the East London Line when it re-opens after extension in 2010. The shortlisted bidders are Hong-Kong based MTR and GoVia.

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Safety fears over guards axe threat

Hackney Gazette: 06 April 2007

Scrapping guards on a Hackney railway line will threaten passengers' safety, a trade union union has warned.

Transport for London (Tfl) has asked rail companies bidding for the North London line franchise to consider ditching train guards.

It means more than 100 guards who currently work on the North London line could be moved elsewhere.

The line runs through Dalston Kingsland, Hackney Central, Homerton and Hackney Wick stations.

Furious rail union chiefs insist removing guards by 2011 will threaten the safety of passengers in the run-up to the London Olympics.

"It beggars belief that they will be given a free hand to remove nearly 100 guards from busy commuter trains just in time for the Games," said the Rail Maritime and Transport general secretary, Bob Crow.

"The North London line is a heavily used commuter line with a high level of assaults on passengers and staff.

"People who work and travel on the railways want to see more uniformed staff on duty, both on stations and on trains.

"Far from removing guards, TfL should be leading the way in restoring them where they have been removed already."

The North London line is currently run by Silverlink Metro, but will come under Tfl control in November.

By 2010, the line will form part of an improved network of overground rail services across the capital.

Known as the London Overground, the North London line will be connected to the extended East London Underground line at Dalston Junction.

Two private companies - Hong-Kong based MTR and GoVia - are competing to run the new-look service under strict franchise from Tfl.

During the tendering process, Tfl asked the bidders to consider scrapping guards on the North London line.

The RMT obtained the information through the Freedom of Information Act.

Defending the proposal, Tfl said staffing levels will be increased on the North London line.

"The new staff will be paid for by the huge investment that is central to the mayor's and TfL's London Overground operations," said a TfL spokesman.

However, he admitted that the bidders for the London Overground contract had been asked to consider running a driver-only service by 2011.

"This will not involve staff cuts," he aded "On the contrary, the move will help ensure that more staff can be made available to concentrate on looking after passengers' safety and welfare.