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Yet another instance of a disabled person being badly let down by the rail industry. When will they learn? There needs to be robust enforcement of the law with penalties that will hurt TOCs. Ideally I'd like to see individuals in court answering for the failings.

From the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-49434911):

Have seen similar on SWR. I do wonder how this is going to work with DOO and unmanned stations, after about 17:00.

Maybe a few rail executives ought to do "secret" trips in a wheelchair on their network, I am sure there is a TV programme in there somewhere.

I can imagine that automated ramps would be rather difficult, partly due to having to somehow find space for that equipment on the train and partly due to varying platform heights, curved platforms etc. And we should be wary of possibly killing some town's chances of a station by saying that new curved platforms are not allowed.

I think Andy Masters' comment in the article of whether wheelchair users "would manage to find a guard to get them on and off trains." is key. I believe there is a requirement for 'call for aid' buttons at the wheelchair spaces. Logic would suggest that wheelchair users could press this just before their stop, just like an able-bodied passenger would request a stop on a bus, and somebody would come along to help the passenger alight. It is absolutely vital therefore that staff are available to respond to a 'call for aid' activation at short notice; that is one reason for my current forum 'signature', the key part of which is "Don't DOO it, keep the guard".

I agree that there is a case for a guard (for want of a better name) on trains. 

The ORR’s view is that DCO (or DOO), with the Driver controlling the opening and closing of doors is safe, subject of course to suitable on train and/or platform cameras etc. 

I agree with this view. However, there are other things that need to be done to provide an acceptable level of customer service which the Driver cannot do.  Assisting disabled passengers board and leave the train is one.  On Radio 4 a while ago I heard someone from the ORR or DfT being asked how a disabled person could board a  Thameslink train at an unstaffed station – he gave the ridiculous answer that the Driver would leave his cab (having shut down the train presumably) and get the station ramp.

I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect disabled people to have to pre-book assistance – like other passengers they won’t always know exactly what train they’ll be getting.  So if only for DAA reasons I think there is a case for staffing a train with more than just a Driver. 

Easyjet can fly you from Luton to Glasgow in a plane carrying 180 passengers with 4 crew for about £40, so the DfT argument that a Guard (for want of a better name) is unaffordable on an 8 coach train carrying 500 passengers doesn’t seem to stand up. 

Easyjet’s air hosts/hostesses will announce that their primary role is safety.  It is, but they will spend all their time providing customer services like making sure everyone is in their right seats quickly, stowing luggage, selling you things (on commission), etc.  They are trained to get you off the plane quickly in an emergency, but that is a role that many will go years without doing.

So RMT, along with the DfT and train operators, need some modern thinking on the role of this second person on the train.  Forget the door opening and closing duties which Drivers can safely do, and move on to what adds value (from both the train operator’s and passenger’s perspective) to a passenger’s journey in a modern train.  They need to be trained in what to do to safeguard passengers in various scenarios of incident or accident (their most important role), but also to assist disabled people (a legal requirement which is not well fulfilled in DOO and unstaffed station areas), provide protection to vulnerable passengers (also, arguably, a legal duty), to check tickets (and thus bring revenue into the train operator), give journey information, help with connection issues etc.

And why could they not take on the trolley dolly (molly) role? Is there any good reason why the traditional “Guard” role could not be modelled on that of a modern air host(ess)? 

At the moment, since introduction of the IETs I am lead to believe that Train Managers are being pushed to focus more on revenue - they no longer release the doors nor need to manually operate Selective Door Operation. Obviously,  Train Managers can’t be monitored at all times to see if they are doing revenue inspections however there will still be the odd few who don’t really bother, just close the doors and let the automatic announcements roll.

If GWR ever choose to get rid of the safety critical guard then I would be shocked if they don’t come back in the format of “On Board Supervisor” or something like that. Making so many people redundant won’t go down well..

What I do not understand about this story is that I thought SWR still had old-fashioned guards on all its trains. What was the guard on this train doing?

He would seemingly have been at the end of the (breakdown in) communication chain. Many reasons why the Guard wasn't there to help Sophie alight. The message never got to the Guard. Didn't read message or forgot. Dealing with another issue. It does appear that the Guard was trying to dispatch, as the hustle alarm sounded several times while the good Samaritan held the doors.

One aggravating factor could have been that the Guard didn't do a walk through at any point in Sophie's journey. It's not unknown for guards to plonk themselves in a cab and only come out during station calls.

The preceding is only supposition on my part though. How and why Sophie came to be at her destination without being able to alight will only be known to SWR after they investigate.

Article on BBC Breakfast this morning & an interview with Sophie. Seems it's a pretty regular occurrence and a complete lottery for disabled people as to whether she (and others) get help. Usual "lessons learned" cut/paste stock response from TOC.

Indeed TG. And we only get to hear the tales of woe from disabled folk who have a public profile. The athletes, comedians, Dames of the realm...

They are certainly not the only disabled rail users being let down by the rail industry on a regular basis. Their 'incidents' are just the newsworthy ones. I'm pretty sure disabled rail users are let down on a daily basis across the network.

The legislation in place (Equality Act 2010) has been hard fought for after decades of campaigning. It now needs to be robustly enforced. A disabled rail user should have exactly same opportunity to travel as an able bodied person. No excuses.