Demonstration planned as East West Rail row continues delaying Milton Keynes to Oxford launch
A union announced it is holding a demonstration on Monday to further highlight its issues with the potential delivery of the train line between Milton Keynes and Oxford.
National union, RMT, is hosting a demonstration at Marylebone Railway Station in London to criticise Chiltern Railways’ driver-only plans for the East West Rail line.
For almost two years the union and the company, which provides commuter services from Marylebone to Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire communities, have clashed over whether the new rail line can operate with driver-only trains.
RMT has balloted its members over potential strike action to reaffirm its position that it would be dangerous to run trains as driver-only operations (DOO).
Chiltern Railways told the Citizen earlier this month that it is now looking to deliver the East West Rail trains with two members of staff on every train.
However, the union disputes this claim stating that “the company refused to provide guarantees over the safety critical role of the second person on board.”
A new fast Oxford to Milton Keynes route, which will stop at a newly created station in Winslow, is also part of the project which cost close to £7 billion to deliver. The overall scheme will look to create a new Oxford to Cambridge arc linking the two famous cities in a bid to create growth in the areas.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “The actions of Chiltern management to not take these concerns seriously is totally unacceptable. RMT will not accept the watering down of safety on the rail network.”
It was previously hoped that Chiltern Railways’ advertisement for ‘customer service colleagues’ based at stations served by the new line signalled a sign a resolution was in sight.
But recent industrial action discussions suggest the company, which is set to go under public ownership, and the union remain at odds.
Richard Allan, managing director of Chiltern Railways, said: "Chiltern’s plan is that every East West Rail service it operates will have two colleagues on board - the Driver, plus a colleague dedicated to providing customer assistance, checking tickets, and helping customers get the most out of using the new line.
"Our new services between Oxford and Milton Keynes will offer access to jobs, education and leisure for many thousands of people, as well as creating more than 100 new permanent roles at Chiltern, with no changes to the roles of existing colleagues.
"The way that Chiltern is planning to operate these East West Rail services is no different to the way many of our existing trains have safely operated for many decades, so we are disappointed that the RMT has decided to ballot for industrial action on this proposal."