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The overriding issue facing railway workers worldwide over the next four years remains the restructuring of railway systems and the possible consequences for jobs, working conditions and trade union rights.

The ITF believes that the starting point of railway restructuring must be to modernise the network and improve the quality of service offered to existing and potential users. Within this context there are three prerequisites to successful restructuring: full consultation with railway workers' unions; protection of jobs to the greatest possible extent; and, the improvement of safety standards.

With the above in mind, the primary work of the section over the next four years will therefore include the following activities:

• continued policy discussion on the issue of railway restructuring and privatisation in the annual section meetings.
  
• advice to railway workers' affiliates facing restructuring and/or privatisation.
  
• co-ordination by the Secretariat of solidarity activities in situations where railway restructuring and/or privatisation has resulted in a serious dispute between an affiliate and a government.
  
• engagement with the World Bank and other international lending institutions to ensure that where they advise governments on railway restructuring and/or privatisation, the railway trade unions are fully consulted.
  
• co-ordination by the Secretariat of affiliate activities within the newly-emerging  multinational railway operators.
  
• continuing to campaign and lobby for full trade union rights for all railway workers, whether employed in the public or private sector.
  
• continuing to lobby and campaign for integrated urban transport systems in conjunction with the Road Transport Workers' Section via the ITF Urban Transport Committee and in co-operation with the UITP.

In addition to the above, the section will continue to pursue issues of railway safety. Safety in tunnels, including the channel tunnel, will in particular remain high on the agenda.