DUTCH STATE RAILWAYS AND DRIVER-ONLY OPERATION ON UK RAILWAYS

Early day motion 350, tabled 10 October 2017 by Ian Mearns (Labour). Signed by 18 members.

That this House notes that Greater Anglia and Merseyrail are in dispute with the RMT union over those companies' plans to introduce driver-only operated trains; further notes that Greater Anglia and Merseyrail are both part-owned by Abellio that, when introducing new trains on its franchise in Scotland, was able to reach an agreement with the RMT on this issue; recognises that this resulted in retaining the guarantee of the guard on the services in question and also the guards' role in ensuring the safe despatch of trains; believes that if Abellio in Scotland can reach such an agreement with the RMT then it can reach the same agreement on Greater Anglia and Merseyrail; notes that Abellio is owned by Dutch state railways Nederlandse Spoorwegen, whose recent reports boast of annual revenues of 1.4 billion euros on its UK rail operations and an overall return of 18 per cent on a limited investment; and further believes that the Dutch state railways should cut their profits so passengers can keep the guarantee of guards on Greater Anglia and Merseyrail services.

Signatures by party: Labour 16, Labour/Co-operative 1, Scottish National Party 1.