c2c Rail Company news

I would be grateful if you could respond to the following questions and concerns relating to training;

Inadequate Route knowledge - in LGRI1 Lord Cullen was critical of driver route knowledge. How does the company intend to address this potential danger for ’acting guards’?

How have C2C determined that two non-service on-route training sessions are adequate? Will this cover all the routes and any parts of the route that may need particular attention?

Training in escape, evacuation, emergency procedures, first aid etc. is a prerequisite for safety purposes. In particular, Lord Cullen stresses the importance of ’scenario’ training and simulating real emergencies. How will this be addressed?

Bearing in mind Lord Cullen’s report and the reference to the greater frequency of BR training compared to that of current companies, can you explain how you can justify a training programme that appears to be even shorter than contemporary guard training programmes?

Can you also explain how this group of temporary guards will cope with the different safety roles required when operating different types of rolling stock?

How have c2c risk assessed any changes in this Safety Critical role? (i.e. how have you complied with the Railways [Safety Critical Work] Regulations 1994 & Railways [Safety Case] Regulations)? How has c2c meaningfully consulted their H & S reps on this change as required by the SRSC Regs 1977?

Do c2c consider this to be a material change to their Safety Case, and if so, have they notified RSL and HMRI and consulted their H & S Reps?

How have NEG TOCs risk assessed the absence of these managers when undertaking temporary duties as guards? What risks may be created by their absence from their normal duties? Do NEG TOCs consider this to be a material change to their Safety Cases, as per the Railways (Safety Case) Regs 2000 and consulted their H & S Reps?

"You will be aware of the rights of TSSA to the information and consultation requested under current agreements and legislation including the SRSC Regulations 1977.

"I am aware of the timetable that you are working towards in regard to using managers and temporary guards. If the information and consultation requested is to be meaningful we would require a full response to the questions raised in this letter within seven days of today’s date. Because of the importance we attach to these issues, if we are not in possession of a satisfactory reply we will be raising these matters directly with HMRI."

From Jon Allen, Deputy General Secretary

cc Andrew Chivers, Operations Director