IF YOU spend any time on Britain’s railways, whether above ground or on the Tube, you’ll know that things aren’t working as they should – late trains, stations understaffed, workers under pressure, and passengers paying more than ever for services that too often let them down.

But behind all this, there are deep challenges facing the people who keep the system running.

My union, the TSSA, represents thousands of transport workers, and we’re fighting battles on several fronts that, if won, will benefit not only our members but every passenger who steps on a train.

First, let’s talk about the much-anticipated “Great British Railways” reforms. Public ownership is a golden opportunity – the rebirth of a joined-up railway. But a just transition that properly looks after transport workers is far from guaranteed.

Too often, reorganisations in this industry have meant job losses, lower pay, or corners cut on safety. If the government is serious about creating a public railway that works for all, they need to start by sitting down with us and ensuring the workforce is protected.

No worker should lose out because of restructuring. That’s why we’re calling for a “just transition” at TUC Congress – fairness, security, and dignity for those who’ve kept the railway running through thick and thin.

But even before we get to structural reform, there are urgent day-to-day issues.

Take pollution. Enclosed spaces with exhaust fumes and dust are an everyday part of the job for many transport workers. Just look at London Underground. As trains brake, they kick up particulate matter from the rails. At some Tube stations, our members say you can even taste the metal in the air.

The truth is, we don’t know the long-term health effects – so better safe than sorry. We need to increase budgets for cleaning and raise standards for air quality on the railway.   

And then there’s the question of violence. It’s a disgrace that in 2025 we still have staff being spat at, verbally abused, even assaulted just for doing their jobs.

Every worker has the right to go home safe and well at the end of their shift. That’s why we’re calling on government to fund and fully resource the British Transport Police so they can actually respond when called.

Make assault of a transport worker an aggravating factor in sentencing, sending a clear message that society won’t tolerate abuse of key workers; properly punish perpetrators; and ensure every single station in this country is adequately staffed.

Staffing is key. When stations are abandoned, passengers feel less safe while lone workers become more vulnerable. A visible, present workforce makes everyone safer.

Another issue is the government’s recent arbitrary hike in salary thresholds for migrant workers.

Many of our members, dedicated, hard-working staff who kept the railway going through the pandemic, are suddenly at risk of deportation because their salaries don’t meet the new visa sponsorship levels.

Imagine giving years of essential service only to be told you don’t earn enough to stay. It’s cruel and it’s wrong.

Government must protect existing key workers on visa schemes, not punish them. Without them, our transport system would grind to a halt. Deporting them because of a spreadsheet calculation about “thresholds” isn’t just inhumane, it’s self-defeating.

Our union isn’t only fighting back against government missteps. We’re also building up our strength for the future. That’s why TSSA is investing in women’s leadership training, encouraging our women members to step forward and change the face of transport.

This industry has been male-dominated for far too long; it’s time we saw real representation at every level.

We’re also launching a campaign around menopause in transport, inspired by international examples where ageing workforces have been treated with dignity. Too many women still suffer in silence at work, battling symptoms in uniforms that aren’t fit for purpose, in overheated environments with little flexibility.

We’re determined to secure fairer uniforms, sensible working temperatures, and flexible arrangements that allow women to thrive. We’re listening to our members and amplifying their voices. That’s how we build a stronger, fairer workplace for everyone.

A Great British Railways that is truly great would be clean, safe, staffed, and fair, treating workers with respect, passengers with dignity, and putting long-term public good over short-term private profit.

A just transition isn’t a slogan but a promise to build a future where no worker is thrown on the scrapheap. That’s what my union will keep fighting for – pressing ministers, operators, and regulators to do the right thing.

Because Britain deserves better than a railway that limps from crisis to crisis. We deserve a system that’s run for people, not profit, and we’ll never stop pushing until we get there.

Maryam Eslamdoust is the general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA).