Second guards' strike will hit tomorrow

SERVICES by train operating company c2c look set to be hit by a second day of strike action by guards tomorrow (Wednesday 4 July).

An emergency timetable will be in operation, allowing a quarter of peak trains and half of off-peak trains to run. Passengers can also use their c2c tickets on the neighbouring Great Eastern route from Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street in London. And for customers living closer to London, their c2c tickets will be valid on London Underground services between Upminster and Tower Hill.

The RMT union is bringing the industrial action over the ongoing dispute relating to the role of the guard and the Driver Only Operation (DOO) of trains. c2c believe that the RMT have reneged on an earlier agreement.

In December 1999, the union had signed up to a phased introduction of Driver Only Operation on c2c, linked to the company's introduction of its new £300 million high-tech Electrostar train fleet, which feature state-of-the-art safety features, replacing old slam-door stock.

On that basis, the company has already invested several million pounds on the preparatory work towards DOO, including platform modifications and upgraded lighting.

Of the company's 130 guards, half are members of the RMT union, and 17% of the guards voted in favour of strike action when balloted several weeks ago.

Dominic Booth, Managing Director of c2c said: "It is outrageous that our customers are being made to suffer a second day of disruption by the RMT.

"It is clear that the union are reneging on the deal for DOO that they signed up to with us. They haven't given us a satisfactory explanation as to why they now want to do a U-turn, and it's clearly nothing to do with safety issues, it's political.

"We have said all along there is no reason for these strike to take place, if the RMT want to change areas of the Rule Book relating to DOO, they should be talking to Railtrack's Railway Safety organisation, who have the power to make any changes.

"As a train operating company, we don't have the authority to change the Rule Book, we just follow the rules. And if Railway Safety decides on any changes we will be only too happy to comply and follow them to the letter.

"It is completely wrong for the RMT to target the train operating companies, particularly companies like c2c who still have guards at a time when others have already switched to DOO. The people who are going to suffer because of this are our customers, struggling to get to work in London on Wednesday, as the strike means we can only run about a quarter of our peak train services.

"I'm sure our customers are as completely perplexed as I am how a union can sign an agreement and then just attempt to tear it up at the drop of a hat."

On Wednesday, c2c will only be able to run 11 of its normal 47 morning peak trains and 17 of its normal 44 evening peak trains. But despite a 25% service level, with lengthened trains increasing capacity, the company estimates it could still carry up to 15,000 of its normal 25,000 customers who commute to the City every weekday.

An emergency timetable for Wednesday was produced earlier this week and handed out to passengers at stations today. Details are available here and via other media, including station announcements.

Stations that will not be served by this restricted peak service are Upminster, Barking, Chafford Hundred and Ockendon. Upminster and Barking passengers can use the London Underground services there to travel.

Trains into London will stop at West Ham and Limehouse in the morning peak to drop passengers but not in the evening peak for safety reasons. In the evening, passengers returning from Docklands Light Railway stations will need to travel via Tower Gateway to Fenchurch Street, rather than interchanging at Limehouse or West Ham. c2c tickets will be valid on DLR/LU services.

A limited service will also run off-peak and further details on Wednesday's services are available from c2c station staff, via the Customer Information phone line on 08457 678 765 or from National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.