The Battle Over Britain's Single-Staffed Trains
A fresh confrontation is brewing on Britain's railways as the RMT union threatens industrial action against Chiltern Railways over plans to operate the new East West Rail link between Oxford and Milton Keynes with only a driver on board. This dispute reignites the long-standing controversy surrounding driver-only operation (DOO) trains that has divided the rail industry for decades.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey maintains that "a guaranteed safety critical second person on board a train" is essential for handling various functions and responding to potentially dangerous situations. He points to the Huntingdon mass stabbing incident as evidence, where quick reactions from onboard crew ensured emergency services were alerted promptly.
What Exactly Is Driver-Only Operation?
Driver-only operation refers to trains where the sole staff member is the driver, who also handles door operations using cameras for safety monitoring. This differs from driver-controlled operation (DCO), where drivers manage doors but additional staff may be present. According to the Rail Delivery Group, DOO currently operates on 45% of UK trains, carrying 55% of all passengers nationwide.
The situation across the network reveals remarkable inconsistency. On Govia Thameslink Railway, all Thameslink and Great Northern services operate with only drivers, including lengthy routes like Peterborough to Horsham (118 miles) and Brighton to Bedford (103 miles). Yet between Brighton and Gatwick Airport, Thameslink trains run driver-only while Southern trains serving identical stations always carry an additional onboard supervisor.
Safety Concerns Versus Official Assessments
Rail unions vehemently oppose DOO expansion. Mick Lynch of RMT argues it "will make our railways less safe, secure and accessible," while Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan states train drivers "hate it, feel it's unsafe."
However, official safety assessments tell a different story. The Rail Safety and Standards Board concluded in 2018 that "driver dispatch of trains is unquestionably safe according to all criteria." Similarly, the Office of Rail and Road found in 2017 that the practice "fully meets legal requirements for safe operation" when proper equipment, procedures and competent staff are in place.
The debate extends beyond immediate safety to broader concerns about passenger security and accessibility. A 2013 Transport Select Committee expressed worry that reduced staffing could "make the railway less safe, particularly at night, and deter women and vulnerable users from travelling by train."
With the rail industry losing billions annually and requiring taxpayer support, successive governments have sought balance between passenger care and public expenditure. The current dispute with Chiltern Railways demonstrates that this complex issue remains far from resolution, affecting millions of passengers who rely on Britain's railways every day.
