Transport Policy

As a union organised in the transport industries in the UK and the Republic of Ireland TSSA takes a very keen interest in all aspects of transport. TSSA campaigns for a good quality, affordable and integrated public transport system that is accountable and run in the public interest. We believe that public transport should be regarded as both a service for the people who use it and a major asset at every level in each of the nations where we organise. As such, our view is that public transport should be publicly owned and not open for private sector profit extraction. 

Our policy, as determined by TSSA’s Annual Delegate Conference, is highly critical of the fundamental structure of the passenger rail industry which remains seriously flawed with the train operators and others putting their private interests ahead of those of the public. TSSA’s concerns include:

• Rail fares in the UK are the most expensive in Europe;
• Passengers are expected to pay even higher fares to fund investment in the rail network;
• Advance purchase fares are not regulated by the Department for Transport in the same way as season tickets and open tickets;
• Train operating companies immunity from any real commercial risk;
• Rolling stock ownership and leasing is dominated by a few highly profitable enterprises;
• The apparent ease with which train operators are able to reduce ticket office facilities in terms of opening hours, numbers of windows etc., and
• Excessive reward for a small number of railway industry executives paid for from fare revenue and, to a greater or lesser extent, subsidies from the public purse.

TSSA believes that these problems can only be overcome by an industry that is publicly owned and democratically accountable to the public with services being run in the interests of passengers, not for company profits.

The publication in May 2021 of the UK Government’s Williams Shapps Plan for Rail Reform will introduce change in the rail industry with the formation of Great British Railways and replace existing private train operating company contracts with public service arrangements. Fundamentally, however, it retains private sector involvement, ensuring the continuance of company profits as the priority for many firms.    

TSSA’s Annual Delegate Conference regularly reaffirms our long standing policy for a publicly owned and accountable rail industry run on a not-for-profit basis, or where profits are generated such profits are re-invested in the industry.

TSSA believes that proper staffing levels contribute enormously to a safer environment for both passengers and transport workers. Staff are also able to provide a better service – most passenger would prefer to deal with a person than a vending machine. We strongly oppose employers who put profit before safety by using every opportunity to cut staff numbers.

Information on current issues together with links to useful websites are published here:

• British Transport Police 
• Bus Users UK
• Campaign for Better Transport 
• Climate Change Committee 
• Department for Transport 
• Friends of the Earth 
• HS2 
• Merseytravel 
• National Assembly for Wales/Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru 
• National Rail Enquiries 
• Network Rail 
• Nexus (TWPTE – Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive) 
• Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure 
• Office of Rail and Road (ORR)  
• Rail Accident and Investigation Branch
• Rail Delivery Group 
• Rail Freight Group (RFG) 
• Railfuture
• Rail User Groups   
• Railway Safety and Standards Board 
• Republic of Ireland Department of Transport 
• The Scottish Government 
• South Yorkshire PTE 
• Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
• Transport Focus 
• Transport for Greater Manchester 
• Transport for London (TfL) 
• Transport for Wales 
• Transport for West Midlands
• Transport Scotland