NMBS whistles minister back on trains without a train supervisor
© Marc Herremans – Mediahuis
The NMBS sees no possibility for experiments with traveler trains without train supervisors, as the new Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) wants to do. This is apparent from a response from the railway company to the policy memorandum of the minister.
In his policy statement, the minister says that experiments must be carried out to allow certain traveler trains to ride on national and suburban lines without train supervisors, according to the system of the « One Man Car ». That can be a solution for the difficulties to find enough staff, it sounds. « Of course it must be ensured that the conditions that guarantee safe traffic for both travelers and the staff are met, » said the minister.
And there the shoe pinches for NMBS. As long as a number of « essential functions » cannot be performed in any other way, the deployment of train supervisors will remain « essential, » the railway company says in a press release. In addition, NMBS refers to guaranteeing safe departure, helping travelers who need assistance and checking tickets.
« Continue to resist »
CEO Sophie Dutordoir was previously not a fan of the idea, because train supervisors play a crucial role for her. In 2019, the idea was called technically and financially unfeasible. The trade unions were also against and ACV Transcom repeated on Tuesday in a press release that it has always been against the principle « and will continue to oppose it in the future ».
In its response, NMBS also points to the OpenBaredienst contract and the business plan 2023-2032, which the Council of Ministers approved in 2022. It states that the presence of the train supervisors is retained « for the full duration of the contract ». Dutordoir now wants to quickly discuss the issue with the new minister.
The company does not notice that it has been decided to meet the necessary technical equipment with every purchase of new trains. They will already make it technically possible to ride without a train supervisor. This concerns, for example, the possibility to open and close the doors from the steering post, or to see the platform via cameras. The new trains should last until 2070.
