The confusing issue that is dividing Britain's railways

Simon Calder on key questions over driver-only operation

- Simon Calder

"We will not accept driver-only operation in any company without a fight," the boss of the biggest rail union said last week.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, told MPs on the Transport select committee: "We will never sign up to accepting driver-only operation [DOO]. It will never happen while I am general secretary. It will never happen as long as the RMT exists."

That might give the impression the concept is new. In fact, many trains have been operated by a sole member of staff since the 1980s. Every day, millions of passengers travel on trains where the only member of staff on board is sitting at the front mainly on short-distance trips in Greater London, but also on journeys of over 100 miles.

There is, though, no coherence. From Brighton to Gatwick Airport, for example, Thameslink trains have only a driver on board, but Southern trains serving exactly the same stations always have an on-board supervisor as well. They are both operated by the same organisation, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), but with different staffing agreements. These are the key questions and answers to help you understand this complex and contentious issue.

What is driver-only operation?

Strictly, when the only staff member working on a train is the driver. He or she opens and closes the doors, with cameras installed to ensure that the operation can be conducted safely.

It is a subset of driver-controlled operation (DCO), where the driver opens and closes the doors on trains but one or more members of staff may also be on board. This is the arrangement on, for example, Lumo trains linking Edinburgh and Newcastle with London King's Cross.

Where does DOO exist at present?

On 45 per cent of UK trains, carrying 55 per cent of passengers, according to the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing train operators.