Nicola Jukes – A journey from Hatfield to the heart of transport safety advocacy

Nicola Jukes is not only a seasoned TSSA campaigner for workers' rights and a prominent figure in the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), but her career has been marked by a deeply personal and dramatic event—the Hatfield rail disaster. This incident, where she was on duty and sustained injuries, has shaped her relentless advocacy for transport safety. As a former TSSA Treasurer, Nicola has always been at the forefront of workers' rights in the transport sector, but her experience in the Hatfield tragedy made the cause personal.

On 17 October 2000, the Hatfield rail crash shocked the nation. A high-speed passenger train derailed just north of London, killing four people and injuring over 70 others. Nicola was among those on duty that day, and she sustained injuries during the incident. While she survived, the experience left a lasting impact on her both physically and emotionally.

"For me, Hatfield wasn't just a disaster in the headlines; it was a personal wake-up call to the fundamental importance of transport safety. I saw the direct consequences of negligence and the terrifying reality of what happens when infrastructure fails," she recalls.

The incident, caused by a cracked rail due to inadequate maintenance, exposed systemic failures within the rail industry and raised pressing questions about how cost-cutting and privatisation were impacting safety standards. For Nicola, the tragedy was not just a matter of grief but a rallying cry to ensure that no one should ever have to experience such a preventable disaster again.

From survivor to campaigner

Nicola’s injuries eventually healed, but her determination to change the system did not. Her experiences only strengthened her resolve to fight for stronger safety measures across the UK's transport network. In her role as TSSA Treasurer, she was instrumental in pushing for reforms aimed at improving the health, safety, and working conditions of transport workers, as well as passengers.

Her advocacy focused on ensuring that companies operating in the rail sector were held accountable for maintaining the highest safety standards. “Transport safety must always be the top priority, above profits or convenience,” Nicola asserts. “When we neglect safety, we put lives at risk. The human cost of accidents like Hatfield is simply too high to ignore.”

Labour NEC and the fight for a safer future

Today, as a member of the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee, Nicola Jukes continues to champion the causes she holds close to her heart. Her involvement in the NEC gives her a platform to push for comprehensive transport policies that prioritise transport and passenger safety.

She has been a vocal critic of the impact of privatisation on the rail sector, arguing that the pursuit of profit has compromised maintenance and safety standards. “We’ve seen time and again that when private companies are allowed to run vital public services, corners are cut in the name of profits,” Nicola says. “Safety should never be compromised in our transport systems. The Hatfield disaster was a tragic reminder of that.”

Nicola is committed to advocating for public ownership of the railways, which she believes is key to ensuring accountability and safety. "Publicly owned transport systems allow us to put people before profit. We can invest in infrastructure, maintenance, and most importantly, safety—things that were tragically lacking in Hatfield."

A vision for safer transport

Nicola Jukes’ journey from the Hatfield disaster to the upper echelons of transport advocacy in the Labour Party is a testament to her dedication to improving the safety and security of the UK's transport systems. Her experience as a survivor gives her an unparalleled perspective on the importance of vigilance and reform in transport safety.

As she continues her work with the Labour Party and other key organisations, her message remains clear: the safety of transport workers and passengers must be a non-negotiable priority.

"Every train, every track, and every station should be a safe place. That's why I continued working in the transport industry" Nicola says, underscoring her belief that only through rigorous safety standards, responsible governance, and public accountability can we prevent future tragedies.

Nicola Jukes' story is one of resilience, leadership, and a commitment to the safety of those who use and work within our transport networks. Her voice is a powerful reminder that behind every policy and every reform, there are real people whose lives depend on getting it right. And for Nicola getting it right means ensuring that tragedies like Hatfield never happen again.

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