On this World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the locomotive drivers of the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) issue a stark warning: there is still no European system in place to monitor the working, driving, and rest times of train drivers and other safety-critical mobile railway workers.
As the rail system becomes ever more fragmented and cross-border operations continue to grow, national authorities are unable to track whether drivers are adhering to essential safety-related time limits — particularly those who work across multiple countries or for more than one employer. This lack of oversight endangers not only workers’ well-being but also the safety of the entire rail network.
Currently, there is no reliable European tool to ensure that drivers are not working beyond safe limits. Fatigue among safety-critical staff is a silent risk on the rails — one that puts not only the health of workers at stake but also the safety of passengers, freight, and the public at large. ETF calls for the urgent development of a European digital tool that can reliably and objectively monitor driving, working, and rest times for all train drivers and mobile rail staff. Such a tool must:
• Record time data consistently across countries and employers; • Be easy to use and fully compliant with data protection rules; • Ensure that the strictest applicable national rule is followed in cross-border situations; • Be overseen by competent public authorities with the power to enforce compliance; • Cover all types of employment, including freelancers, agency workers, and staff working for more than one operator.
Monitoring of working and rest time must not depend on fragmented systems or voluntary reporting. It must be embedded in a single, trustworthy framework that protects safety, respects workers’ rights, and ensures proper accountability for all rail undertakings.
ETF stands firm in the belief that safety at work can never be compromised. The people who keep Europe’s railways moving deserve a system that protects them — and the passengers and goods they carry — from the risks of fatigue and overwork.
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