On 4 October 2018, Railway workers and their unions had a pan-European action day where workers and union activists mobilised to keep skilled staff on our trains. “You’re Welcome” was the slogan of the action day, echoing the million helpful encounters that European train staff have with their passengers every day. ETF affiliates from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK contributed to the Fair Transport campaign by explaining to commuters and the general public the varied and vital tasks that railway staff are responsible for.

In Austria, vida distributed sweets and leaflets in several train stations across the country, highlighting the vital role that on-board crews have on Austrian trains. In cities such as Vienna, Salzburg, Graz and Linz, passengers were informed of the fact that on-board staff presence can be life-saving in critical situations. The current level of safety and security on Austrian trains can be maintained only if on-board personnel remain.