Glad to see this discussion continuing on from the Gatwick Express topic that turned into a farce from certain anti-guard posters. At the time of typing this post I see 33 members and 24 guests are viewing this topic so it will probably end up getting locked again.
Technology isn't always an improvement, I fail see the relevance of bringing in how a lump of coal dug up from the ground can be compared with passengers loaded on overcrowded platform but let's not let get in the way of a good old 'dinosaur union bashing thread'.
On my patch a lot of DOO equipment is coming under scrutiny and a few stations are now having dispatchers placed there because the equipment has become unfit for purpose. So thousands of pounds worth of CCTV equipment is been sat unused with a Mk1 human eye ball with a whistle and bat there instead. Far more effective as the person in the charge of the platform isn't sat 8 cars away in a cab when people are stood too close to the train. They can immediately sort the issue out.
ASLEF have had enough of this DOO. The railway has changed since it was agreed back in the 80s. Trains and platforms were less busy with many less incidents on the platforms or people getting dragged by trains. Since the 80s no technology has effectively stopped people getting dragged causing serious injury. Just look at many RAIB reports. The only techonology that tried to address the issue was 'Sensitive Door Edges' on the Victoria Line which caused mayhem when they were introduced constantly delaying trains and were at a time overridden on the instructions of management.
Technology isn't always an improvement, I fail see the relevance of bringing in how a lump of coal dug up from the ground can be compared with passengers loaded on overcrowded platform but let's not let get in the way of a good old 'dinosaur union bashing thread'.
On my patch a lot of DOO equipment is coming under scrutiny and a few stations are now having dispatchers placed there because the equipment has become unfit for purpose. So thousands of pounds worth of CCTV equipment is been sat unused with a Mk1 human eye ball with a whistle and bat there instead. Far more effective as the person in the charge of the platform isn't sat 8 cars away in a cab when people are stood too close to the train. They can immediately sort the issue out.
ASLEF have had enough of this DOO. The railway has changed since it was agreed back in the 80s. Trains and platforms were less busy with many less incidents on the platforms or people getting dragged by trains. Since the 80s no technology has effectively stopped people getting dragged causing serious injury. Just look at many RAIB reports. The only techonology that tried to address the issue was 'Sensitive Door Edges' on the Victoria Line which caused mayhem when they were introduced constantly delaying trains and were at a time overridden on the instructions of management.