Bouncers Guard Trains

[Eve]

Copied and pasted from Sky News...

"Private security guards are to travel on trains to protect staff from attacks.

The action follows more than 300 incidents of abuse and assault on Northern Rail staff this year alone.

Rail union RMT says some of its members have been kicked in the head, punched in the face and so badly assaulted that they have taken weeks off work.

Northern Rail says it takes the problem extremely seriously and is employing security staff for problematic routes.

Some rail staff have suffered verbal abuse, threats of violence and have been spat at by passengers.

According to the RMT, the incidents of assaults and abuse across the rail network doubled from 2001 to 2005.

So far this year there have been more than 5,000 reported incidents".

What's wrong with people!!!

[Lonnie]

I think lawrence2 is probably best qualified to answer this, he drives mainline trains, and may know something. I drive on the London Underground, and i've not yet heard it, but if its true, just maybe, its the first step to bringing guards back.

[laurence2]

Hello jenna,
As lonnie has pointed out, i'm a train driver, your be surprised how many companies have security guards, certainly on later night trains and weekends, to deal with drunks.
It is an ever increasing problem on the railways now, one of the problems with train companies is there failure to take people to court, they weight up the cost etc and decide not to take some people to court, i also believe that with companies operating DOO {Driver only operation} Youngsters in particular are running through trains damaging them or insulting law abiding passengers, i think the railways will really have to look at bringing back Guards if only for peace of mind.
The railways should also be making a big statement to the morons who abuse/attack passengers and staff, most trains now have CCTV on them, it cost Thousands of pounds to our industry on these idiots wrecking trains etc, we have to make passengers and staff feel safe when either travelling or working, it affects moral so ultimately staff will go sick rather than face abuse etc, this is not the way to run the railways, Drivers & Guards should i believe make annoucements that for the comfort of your journey the whole of this train is covered by CCTV operation, it might just register with some knuckle head to think before he commits a crime, in regards to northern rail, they are horrendous figures, don't be surprised if the unions make a stand and take strike action, because managerment ain't protecting there employees whilst at work, i've seen this done before