I am a rather elderly woman who often gets on/off a train at Wandsworth Town, travelling to/from similar stations. Quite often the only railway employee, other than the driver, anywhere is the guard. I have seen disabled people needing help. I have seen people needing on the spot help for other reasons — people with children, luggage, etc. Travelling at night I feel safer when there is a guard who gets out of the train and stands on the platform at each stop, checking that it is okay for the train to move.
Purely on safety grounds, I support the strikes.
Jane Eades ● 1840d