EDM: Train safety, staffing levels and plans for driverless trains

Train safety, staffing levels and plans for driverless trains

Tabled by Mr Adnan Hussain (Independent) 19 signatures

The motion

That this House notes that on 1 November 2025 members of rail staff, despite sustaining injuries, acted with exceptional courage to protect passengers, actions that British Transport Police have said undoubtedly saved lives; recognises that this incident has prompted renewed calls from rail unions, including the RMT and TSSA, for an urgent review of safety and staffing levels across the rail network; expresses grave concern that the Government’s ongoing plans for driver-only and driverless train operations risk reducing the human presence on board trains at a time when staff intervention has been proven vital to passenger safety; believes that trained staff are an essential safeguard and a source of reassurance for the travelling public; therefore calls on the Government to pause any rollout of driverless or fully unattended train services until an independent safety impact assessment has been completed; urges Ministers to commit to maintaining and increasing onboard staffing levels on all rail services; and further calls for a comprehensive public review of rail security and staffing, in consultation with unions, passenger groups and the British Transport Police, to ensure that public transport remains safe, staffed, and secure for all.

Signatories (19)