The supposedly exceptional circumstances of an OBS not being provided are in fact the main and overwhelming majority of the reasons they don’t make it to their trains.
The Brighton Mainline exclusion is very interesting because it will likely mean there are smaller stations where, at certain times of day, passengers will now never see any member of staff whilst travelling, whereas a significant number of services used to have conductors. Replacing these staff with OBSs will now no longer be the norm; instead, there will only be a driver unless “operationally convenient” for Southern to deploy someone.
The exact extent of this DOO operation means that OBSs may eventually not operate at all once trains have joined the mainline, which means remarkably short journeys for some of them.
Lastly, an OBS with PTS and evacuation training is actually unlikely to be able to use it, because so far as I know, they will not be briefed on routes they operate on. A large part of the point of track workers having briefings before starting work, and train crew having route knowledge, is that they can cope with the specifics of their route if something untoward happens, so they know the boundaries of what is reasonably safe.
Plenty of holes in the agreement!
So many holes. I thought that there might be at least wait 1-2 mins for a late OBS, but nope, just go.
Other notes. 24 weeks notice to leave. Must accept use of new tech. You could be sly with that one. Get drivers to use a ramp, mmmmm. Oh right, put some LED's on it, it's new tech, HA!!!!
The OBS role is getting even more confusing. At the start, it was, nothing to do with the doors, then it was, be at the doors, but stand on the other side. Then it was key on, look for disabled folks, key off. Nothing to do with dispatch. However, after the East Croydon incident where someone fell between the train and the platform and only the OBS (an ex conductor) spotted them , not the p staff and not the driver, and Southern said words to the effect that 'our fully trained OBS's are of course on the look out for these issues'. mmmmm.
And a new one where a person in the wheelchair, going to a disability access meeting, was unable to board a train at Seaford due to no OBS or station staff. they had to wait half an hour for the nexdt one, a 313 with a guard. Live tweeted the whole thing. Response: Well we do provide booked assistance (haha), oh and if we had need a have a guard for the first service, then due to not having one, it would have been cancelled. forgetting of course, that for the wheelchair punter, it was in effect cancelled, as they were not able to board.
I'd also like to point out that in my 10 years on the railway I think I can count on one hand where a train was delayed as I was late to it, and about 80% I was also with the driver who was late as well.
Fun times.