PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
STAFFING ON FIRST GREAT WESTERN TRAIN SERVICES (6 July 2015)

That this House notes that the Department for Transport has agreed with numerous passenger surveys that passengers highly value a member of staff in addition to the driver on trains; welcomes that under railway regulations maintaining the operational role of a guard or conductor guarantees that a second member of staff is on board the train at all times to assist in protecting the safety of the train and passengers and provide ticket and travel advice; is concerned that despite increases in passenger numbers First Great Western (FGW) is planning to use the introduction of the new Super Express Trains to abolish the guard or conductor on these services and therefore weaken the protection for passengers; is further concerned that FGW is also proposing to worsen the service to passengers by the removal of buffet cars, and also cut safety critical station and train maintenance staff and that, as a result of these cuts, a dispute situation exists with the RMT Union; is dismayed that passengers are being treated in this way when they are paying the most expensive fares in Europe, while FGW is making huge profits and First Group's chairman has seen his pay rise by 243 per cent in four years to almost £1.6 million a year; also notes East Coast is introducing the same new feet of trains, without making such cuts; and calls on FGW to think again and reach a negotiated settlement with the unions.

Sponsored by:
Jo Stevens (Labour)