| answer text |
<p>Whilst decisions on staffing are for individual operators, the Government has been
clear that it wants to see more staff on our railway not fewer. The Government is
not aware of any plans by franchised operators to reduce the number of guards rostered
on train services, and it welcomes the commitments made by Northern and South Western
that a guard will continue to be rostered on every train after the introduction of
Driver Controlled Operation (DCO).</p><p> </p><p>The ORR, the independent rail regulator,
and the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) have found that DCO is safe. In addition,
an RSSB report concluded that the introduction of DCO according to the standard safety
management requirements that all rail companies routinely meet does not increase any
other passenger safety risks and, furthermore, that cancelling a DCO train in the
absence of its guard is more risky than running it with only its driver.</p><p> </p>
|
 |
