What's the general feeling among operational staff about the spread of ATO? Do people like ATO? De-skilling is inevitable.
Once the SSR is entirely ATO and the magic over 50% ATO mark is reached (combine-wide), the firm were planning to change the job descriptions in the train operator grade, alter working agreements and bring in rest day working and reserve automatic train operators in admin roles (presumably to break strikes). Do previously skilled driving and signalling staff seem bothered by that spectre hanging over them?
For signalling staff I’d say the new order is just as skilled. For TBTC the signal desk training just to familiarise with the system is a cool seven weeks in the classroom and on the simulator, that’s before being let loose on a real desk. If anything it’s a bit more “skilled” as there’s quite a few systems issues to learn and be familiar with, and things that the signalman didn’t do before like implement temporary speed restrictions, remotely resolve issues with the on-train signalling equipment, et cetera.
Things may have moved on from having to move levers for every train movement or having to keep on top of what programme machines are doing, however the signalman is still a busy person when the service isn’t perfectly as per the timetable. The Thales product is rather “rough round the edges” so there’s a lot for the signalman to do to keep things running seamlessly, things that others wouldn’t and shouldn’t notice when they’re being done but will notice through a lumpy service when a signalman doesn’t bother to keep an eye on what the system is doing.
Indeed, some of the new rooms have suffered slightly (IMO) from focussing heavily on training line controllers, whilst at the same time giving only lip service to the art of signalling trains, and leaving much skill and knowledge to pass on simply through experience and word of mouth. At some locations there is a marked difference between an “off the street” direct recruit, an experienced ex controller who now also does signalling (perhaps under duress in a few cases!) and an ex senior signal operator. They all bring strengths to the table, but the latter group stand out IMO.
As for train operators, yes the job is slightly deskilled in terms of route knowledge and the physical activity of driving the train - however this has never really been what the driver is paid for. They earn their money for keeping things going safely and smoothly come rain or shine, which in reality means being able to deal with problematic situations.
