Due to strike action today, limited service and only stopping at certain stations.
James Street only on the Liverpool side.
Trains are stopping between 12 and 3pm.
Check before you ride.
Birkenhead North, Hamilton Square, James Street.
The plus side I got to Liverpool in 5 mins lol.
What are they striking for ? Is it still the same as the Southern trains ?
driver-only-operated trains.
I like this quote:
The union said the dispute is not about pay or conditions but strike action is over "concern about passenger safety".
I wonder where the "passenger safety" is when there are rowdy groups of lads on the train, drinking, swearing, feet on the seats and the guard nicely hidden away - waiting until they've gone and they can pick on softer targets.
Who remembers the case of Christopher McGee ?
I vaguely remember the final, official outcome of the 'inquiry' stating that 'driver only' trains were safer, due to the fact that the driver would then be in sole control of the procedures.
Does memory serve well or not ?
Wasn't in the Railway Enquiry. Main recommendations were about the need to resolve the platform gap and the Guard not having an emergency stop facility.
SOURCE
Who remembers the case of Christopher McGee ?
I vaguely remember the final, official outcome of the 'inquiry' stating that 'driver only' trains were safer, due to the fact that the driver would then be in sole control of the procedures.
Does memory serve well or not ?
It will have been five years in November, was he released early because he only had to serve half before being released on licence.
There's a good article here about driver only trains being safer:
https://order-order.com/2016/06/21/rmts-safety-concerns-blown-apart-admission/The RMT have released a dossier listing the “safety risks” of Driver Only Operation to justify their strike today. Commuters have once again been left waiting for trains because the RMT’s Mick Cash says getting rid of the guard position puts customers at risk. Time for a Guido factcheck…
According to the RMT’s own report, in the last five years there have been ten accidents involving passengers getting on trains. One of these was fatal.
The death at James Street station in Liverpool happened when the guard on the platform, Christopher McGee, gave the train the all clear to depart despite the fact a passenger was still leaning against it. McGee was jailed for five years for manslaughter by gross negligence.
No fatalities occurred on the Driver Only Operation trains…
With the small trains miseryrail have today, I guess there is little need for guards if other systems are put in place. As far as I am aware the guards aren't SIA licensed so shouldn't be acting as security offices.
One problem with having unmanned stations and so there is little control over inebriated passengers getting onto the rail network.
I can only apologise to Christopher McGee for the shabby way he was treated, it might have been in the letter of the law but it certainly wasn't fair and as usual, management who were at least equally at fault got away scot free. The rest of the staff should have worked to rule as a result of his conviction.
RMT Press Office
Merseyrail ‘telling desperate lies’ over Guards dispute, says RMT
MERSEYRAIL is resorting to desperate lies and distortions to hide the reality that it has lost the argument and is now also losing the strike over the need for safety-trained Guards, the network’s biggest union says today.
Following four 100-per-cent-solid days of strike action by RMT guards and drivers, and with a fifth to come on July 23, the union has condemned Merseyrail’s misinformation campaign.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said:
“Desperate Merseyrail bosses have been touting a story that we have agreed the introduction of new driver-only routes on Great Western.
“That is simply not true. The GWR deal states quite clearly that the company has no intention of extending driver-only operation with the introduction of new Inter-City Express trains.
“Not only will every service that has a guard today continue to have one when the new IEP trains are introduced, but some services currently run driver-only will actually have guards restored – and that is RMT’s policy.
“We have already told Merseyrail that if they offer us the same deal as we have with GWR we will have the basis for agreement, because it will guarantee the second safety-critical crew member that we – and the vast majority of Merseyrail passengers – know is necessary.”
RMT North West Regional Organiser John Tilley said:
“Merseyrail are also spinning the line that we are only striking because of some diktat from London.
“That is an insult to the guards and drivers who have voted overwhelmingly for action to defend rail safety and whose wishes have been central to planning our industrial campaign.
“Anyone looking for a London link would do well to turn the spotlight on the Department for Transport, which has been orchestrating the campaign to undermine rail safety by de-staffing our railways in the interests of maximising profits.
“It was the DfT’s rail chief Peter Wilkinson who called for ‘punch-ups’ with the rail unions over driver-only operation long before our dispute began.
“RMT has already negotiated a deal with TransPennine Express to guarantee a guard on new trains being introduced at the same time as the new Merseyrail stock, so we know it can be done.
“Rather than persist with a cynical campaign of lies and distortions, Merseyrail should put get around the table to negotiate a sensible deal that puts passengers and safety ahead of its profits.