The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) have both confirmed that the driver operating the doors is a safe method of working. It is vital that train operators have policies in place so that passengers with disabilities are able to travel with confidence. ORR is the organisation which is responsible for the approval and monitoring of operators\u2019 Disabled People\u2019s Protection Policies (DPPP). Following the introduction of driver-controlled operation on Southern, ORR carried out a period of enhanced monitoring to ensure that policies were in place on Southern so that disabled passengers, regardless of whether they had pre-booked assistance or chose to travel spontaneously, and regardless of whether they were travelling to a staffed or unstaffed station, were able to complete their journey. ORR concluded that GTR had provided assurance that it has the systems and processes in place for this purpose. ORR continues to monitor operators\u2019 compliance with their DPPP, and the Department supports it in doing so.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1582", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grant Shapps"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Welwyn Hatfield"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Grant Shapps"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-29T16:47:20.113Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Southern"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) driver controlled operation and (b) stations which are unstaffed or staffed part-time on accessibility for disabled people who wish to travel without pre-booking on Southern Railways.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4615", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brighton, Kemptown"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lloyd Russell-Moyle"} ], "uin" : "279444"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1140566", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1140566/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The operation of services is a matter for the operator and they are generally best placed to respond to queries regarding practices like driver-controlled operation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1582", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grant Shapps"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Welwyn Hatfield"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Grant Shapps"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-29T16:44:36.527Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Southern"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on driver controlled operation on Southern Rail services.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4615", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brighton, Kemptown"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lloyd Russell-Moyle"} ], "uin" : "279447"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1088834", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1088834/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In 2017, 1.6% (around 4,300) of Southern services scheduled to run with an OBS ran without an OBS for their whole journey, and 2.2% (around 5,900) ran without an OBS for part of their journey.<\/p>
<\/p>
In 2018, 0.4% (around 1,250) of Southern services scheduled to run with an OBS ran without an OBS for their whole journey, and 1.0% (around 2,900) ran without an OBS for part of their journey.<\/p>
<\/p>
In the figures for January and February 2019, 0.1% (around 50) of Southern services scheduled to run with an OBS ran without an OBS for their whole journey, and 0.5% (around 225) ran without an OBS for part of their journey.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3996", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Jones"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrogate and Knaresborough"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Jones"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-19T11:59:32.457Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Southern"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2019 to Question 230103 on Southern, how many Southern services ran without an on-board supervisor in (a) 2017, (b) 2018 and (c) 2019 for the (i) whole and (ii) part of their journey.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4029", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lilian Greenwood"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nottingham South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lilian Greenwood"} ], "uin" : "232558"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1084462", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1084462/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Driver Controlled Operation (DCO) was rolled out on Southern from January 2017. Operationally this means that drivers open and close the doors of the train \u2013 a modern and safe way of working. What this means for passengers is that they now have dedicated customer service staff (an on-board supervisor, or OBS) on every train that previously had a conductor. Should an OBS - at short notice - not be able to meet the train, then the train is no longer cancelled, as it would have been with a conductor.<\/p>
<\/p>
In 2016, no Southern services ran without a scheduled second member of staff on board. However, 8,119 trains were cancelled in 2016 because there was no conductor. This is because trains which are scheduled to run with a conductor cannot be run without a second qualified person on board.<\/p>
<\/p>
In 2017, 1.6% of Southern services scheduled to run with an OBS ran without an OBS for their whole journey, and 2.2% ran without an OBS for part of their journey.<\/p>
<\/p>
In 2018, 0.4% of Southern services scheduled to run with an OBS ran without an OBS for their whole journey, and 1.0% ran without an OBS for part of their journey.<\/p>
<\/p>
In the figures for January and February 2019, 0.1% of Southern services scheduled to run with an OBS ran without an OBS for their whole journey, and 0.5% ran without an OBS for part of their journey.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3996", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Jones"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrogate and Knaresborough"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Jones"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-13T14:45:10.577Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Southern"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of trains have run without second member of staff for (a) all and (b) part of the service on GTR Southern Railway services in (a) 2016, (b) 2017 and (c) 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4615", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brighton, Kemptown"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lloyd Russell-Moyle"} ], "uin" : "230103"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/923347", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/923347/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The average training length for a new train driver recruit will vary between Train Operating Companies, and will in part be determined by the complexity of the route(s) upon which the driver is being trained. However, we understand that training length can be up to or over a year. For existing drivers learning new routes, this will again vary depending upon factors such as the complexity of the route. The training of drivers for these new routes has been managed by the Train Operating Company who are best placed to answer queries around the specifics of the training detail. Route knowledge needs to be kept up to date and if a driver has not driven on a route for the past 6 months, they will need to undergo refresher training.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4039", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Orpington"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Joseph Johnson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-06-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-21T14:13:47.407Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Southern"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how long the training is for drivers to learn new routes on Southern services arising from the new timetable; and what proportion of the route learning time for a new route is (a) classroom based and (b) learning on the job.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3930", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Lucas"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brighton, Pavilion"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Caroline Lucas"} ], "uin" : "153242"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/910387", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/910387/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In January 2017, Southern launched the on-board supervisor on routes where the technology allows the driver to control the doors. The conductors on these services were moved to an on-board supervisor (OBS) role. Since then approximately 1.3% of these services have operated without their rostered on-board supervisor for the full journey. This only happens in certain exceptional circumstances such as staff sickness or the second staff member running late.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4039", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Orpington"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Joseph Johnson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-04T16:01:03.75Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-05-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Southern"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of Southern trains have operated without an onboard supervisor in each month since guards were discontinued.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/114", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Loughton"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Worthing and Shoreham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Loughton"} ], "uin" : "147296"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760027", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/760027/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
My Hon Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the Hon Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard MP) as Rail Minister met with GTR in June and the Secretary of State met with GTR in July.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4336", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Callanan"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Callanan"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-09-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-09-20T13:04:07.697Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Southern"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government when ministers last (1) met, and (2) had discussions with, representatives of Southern Rail.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4170", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Smith of Basildon"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Smith of Basildon"} ], "uin" : "HL1583"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/723210", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/723210/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Whilst Southern is used as an operating name by the franchisee, it is in fact part of Govia Thameslink Railway Limited, which operates the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) Franchise.<\/p>
<\/p>
There are no review points under the TSGN Franchise Agreement. Schedule 10.2 of the Franchise Agreement sets out the termination provisions<\/p>