The Berejklian government has sought to allay fears that NSW's fleet of new intercity trains will be driver-only by vowing to always have two staff on board each train.
With the rail union threatening to escalate its campaign against any move to remove guards, Transport Minister Andrew Constance said he would guarantee that each new train would have someone in a guard and customer service role accompanying the driver.
In ruling out driver-only trains, Mr Constance said the exact responsibilities and title of the second staff role on the trains would be decided in talks with the Rail Tram and Bus Union.
“There should be two staff on trains. I want the rules and responsibility [for the guard and customer service role] agreed with the union,” he said.
At present, the intercity rail network in NSW has 380 guards.
The rail union took the government to the Fair Work Commission in August in an attempt to force it to clarify its plans for the staffing of the new trains.
The new intercity trains being built in South Korea are capable of operating with only drivers.
Mr Constance said one of his biggest concerns was ensuring that train staff were on hand to help people with disabilities, parents with prams or the elderly to get on and off at stations.
And he said there was a possibility that the drivers and guards of the new trains would receive higher pay if there was change in their roles due to the new train technology.
Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle labelled the decision as a “victory” for the campaign to keep the guards.
Speaking in Parliament, Ms Doyle acknowledged the advocacy of railway staff and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union leadership in securing the win for passenger and train safety.
“Train guards are essential on our railways. They perform vital safety roles both on board, on the platform and during emergencies between stations. It was always a stupid idea and finally the Minister for Transport has backed down and agreed to keep our train guards,” she said.
Rail Tram and Bus Union state secretary Alex Claassens said he would welcome any announcement that ensured the safe operation of the rail network by retaining guards. “It is definitely a step in the right direction,” he said.
However, Mr Claassens said it would be difficult to know exactly what impact the new trains would have on the roles and responsibilities of staff until they arrived in Australia early next year.
RELATED CONTENT:
By mid-2020, the new trains will start running on the Blue Mountains line to Mount Victoria, followed by Lithgow about four months later and, after that, on the South Coast line to Wollongong and Kiama.
The Blue Mountains line between Springwood and Lithgow will be modified over the next two years to make it capable of carrying the new trains.
