SPECIAL RAIL GUARDS

That this House regrets the tragic loss of life on railways near Harlow, with over eight cases in 2008, and most recently on 22 July 2010; considers that a new force of volunteer special rail guards should be established to improve platform safety, similar to volunteer special constables in the police force; further considers that special rail guards would fit perfectly with the Government's planned reforms to civil society, such as the Big Society Bank and a new generation of community organisers; and therefore calls on the Government, Network Rail and the major railway franchises to support the recruitment and training of volunteer special rail guards in accident blackspots across the British Isles.