The RMT union has claimed that the General Election result demonstrates public opposition to driver only operation of trains and demanded an immediate halt to the removal of rail guards.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: ‘This election has sent out the clearest possible message that the British people have rejected the Tory programme of cuts, austerity, privatisation and division.
New Merseyrail trains could run without guards
'RMT is calling this morning for an immediate halt to the push to axe the guards on our trains. There is no mandate for diluting safety on our transport services.
‘RMT will be writing to Northern, Southern and Merseyrail today demanding that they lift the threat to the guards on their trains and we expect them to do that in light of this election result with immediate effect.'
The union is currently in dispute with all three rail companies over the extension of driver only operation, with a long-running dispute with Southern in particular.
Last month the RMT was due to hold one-day strikes against all three companies but suspended its action following the Manchester Arena bombing.
While the Labour party pledged to end the expansion of driver only operations, the Conservative manifesto suggested that the party would restrict unions' right to strike over the issue by legislating if necessary to introduce minimum service levels during periods of industrial dispute on the railways.
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