Having said that, my finger of blame points more towards DFT. It's their idea, their programme, their management contract, their TOC, their trains, their specification, their timetable, etc...
For once you're right and I DO agree with you for once! The finger of blame ought to be aimed squarely at DfT as it's them who's holding the purse strings, them who tell GTR to jump, them who specified the trains in the first place (who also were asked by Siemens if they were sure on the interior), them who were responsible for the DOO conflict on Southern services by pushing though DOO even though there is no need or want for it on non Metro services etc....
Don't forget it was them who were ultimately responsible for saying to the Govt that everything would work from Day 1 of the new timetable back in May even when the two previous TOCs to GTR raised issues on driver training etc so as it is as they are largely responsible for the entire mess we find ourselves in, Grayling should really either be demoted to the backbenches or shot for sheer incompetent.
Any volunteers?
I read it as the DfT has too much control. They want DOO at all costs. I personally want a guard.
I agree, the DfT has way too much control and micro manages everything too much even though they say they don't
I rather have a guard on board and I'm lucky as services that I use actually have guards on ALL services even if sometimes they are as visible as they can be, most of them are fantastic.
Far far better then DOO which is fine for Metro operations but not Outer Suburban services or IC.