This morning, Rachael Maskell MP for York Central joined workers from Northern Rail in the RMT union at York Railway Station as they strike to save the job of the guard on trains.

Rachael Maskell MP says:
“No one wants to take industrial action, however the staff at Northern Rail are seriously concerned about passenger safety on the railways, and as a result cannot agree to losing a second safety critical person from the trains. Guards not only ensure that trains are safely dispatched, in providing a second pair of eyes to ensure that the doors are clear, but also, they are there to ensure passenger safety throughout their journey.

“Labour will ensure that guards are on trains when we move to our national rail service, under public ownership, as we believe that the safety of the public is critical. You never know when an incident may occur, which could even involve the driver, and therefore need to jump in to provide leadership in these situations. Guards also ensure that disabled people are able to have full access on trains and make sure that anti-social behaviour or sexual harassment is mitigated against.

“I urge Northern Rail to come up with a workable solution for train staff and passengers to break this deadlock and ensure all are safe on the railways.”