ASLEF drivers due to vote on new Southern proposals

Members of the train drivers union ASLEF will be sent details of a proposed settlement to end the ongoing dispute with Southern rail.

The details are being kept secret until letters are received by almost 1,000 members by Monday. They will receive a voting paper on whether to accept or reject it in a ballot.

ITV Meridian understands, the agreement means drivers will close train doors and the new role of the On-board Supervisors (OBS) will be kept for the guards.

The drivers union is expected to say it has won major a concession with Southern agreeing to maintain a second member of staff on certain routes. Southern had wanted to run trains without a second member of staff in exceptional circumstances but it is unclear if this will now be the case.

There will also be guarantees about the quality of cameras used to monitor train doors in the drivers cab, as well as having staff on stations where it is difficult for drivers to see if the platform is clear.

Drivers will not be paid any more to work the new system.

If the deal is as expected, Southern will have won most of what it wanted to do. The union will have forced the company into a tight agreement over ensuring safety but lost its battle against Driver Only Operation.

Commuters will be left feeling not a great deal has changed from Southern's original plan and will question why this dispute was not resolved months ago.

People have lost jobs, been forced to move house and hundreds of thousands of commuters have suffered more than thirty days of strikes and weeks of appalling service.

Meanwhile the dispute with the guards union the RMT is still ongoing. Officials say they are waiting to hear full details of the drivers deal.

However if drivers agree to the deal any action by guards will have less impact as drivers would also be working as On Board Supervisors.