Railways

Safe and Sustainable Rail

Safe and sustainable rail can help power the world out of the economic, climate and social crises we face today. Safe and sustainable rail is a new economic and social model for the industry that redefines the role of passengers, workers, employers, and the state.

Rail reduces carbon emissions. Rail and public transport are the key to the radical modal shift we need in transport. Per passenger kilometre, heavy rail today emits 75% less greenhouse gases than cars, and light rail emits 57% less.

Rail can fuel economic and social equality through access to employment, skilled jobs and higher wages. On average, every one job created in rail creates another job in manufacturing, food, trade or other sectors. Rail also provides citizens with the mobility needed to access jobs and livelihoods.

Our vision for rail is:

1. Safe
We need fully staffed rail operations and services to protect the safety of all.

2. Public Ownership
We demand public funding models for rail, with any profits reinvested back into rail, other public transportation, or returned to public funds.

3. Sustainable
Public transport must replace the majority of cars and we must shift to less emissions-intensive modes of freight distribution to sufficiently reduce transport’s carbon emissions.

4. Social Justice
Rail operates to serve the public, so it should be publicly accountable, with workers, passengers and citizens involved in decision-making regarding planning, development and investment.

Click here to learn more about our demands for Safe and Sustainable rail.

All campaign materials are available for download in English here.

Campaign materials in all languages are available here.