CAMPAIGN FOR AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Our ref: HSR

Head Office Circular NP/144/25

2^nd September 2025

To: The Secretary

All branches and Regional Councils

 

Dear Colleague

 

CAMPAIGN FOR AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS

ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

 

Your 2025 Annual General Meeting adopted the following resolution:

 

This Branch calls on Conference to request that the RMT lead a new campaign urging the UK Parliament and the devolved Welsh and Scottish Parliaments to compel all Train Operating Companies (TOCs), Freight Operating Companies (FOCs), and bus operators to install and maintain Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on all rolling stock and public buses.

 

The evidence supporting the life-saving benefits of AEDs is overwhelming.  AEDs can save lives with very limited risks, require minimal or no training to operate, and are inexpensive to maintain once the initial purchase and installation costs are covered.  Furthermore, they provide an essential safety feature for both transport workers and the public, comparable to the protections afforded to office, retail and factory workers, where AEDs are routinely found.

 

Rail workers, in particular, are often isolated from immediate medical assistance with some trains being over 40 minutes away from the nearest defibrillator once in motion - far too long in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.  This delay could be fatal unless highly trained medical personnel happen to be present.  The addition of AEDs to rolling stock and buses would significantly reduce this risk.

 

While some transport operators have voluntarily chosen to install AEDs on their vehicles, others, including Transport for Wales, have declined to do so.  We believe that a more consistent nationwide approach is necessary and that legislation should be introduced to mandate the installation of AEDs across all public transport.

 

This Branch therefore calls on the RMT to campaign for legislation requiring all operators of public transport, including trains and buses, to install and maintain AEDs, ensuring that transport workers and the public receive the same level of protection from sudden cardiac arrest as other workers.

 

We urge Conference to support this motion and initiate a campaign to protect lives across the transport sector.

                                                                        

At its meeting on 19^th August 2025 your NEC (National Executive Committee) noted and adopted the following report from its health and safety sub-committee:

 

We note the decision of this union’s AGM.

 

The General Secretary is instructed to act in line with the sentiments of the resolution and initiate a campaign for legislation requiring all operators of public transport, including trains and buses, to install and maintain AEDs, ensuring that transport workers and the public receive the same level of protection from sudden cardiac arrest as other workers.

 

Branches and regional councils to be advised. 

 

Please bring this circular to the attention of relevant members.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Eddie Dempsey

General Secretary