We welcome new members but, to comply with our Constitution, they must be persons who are or have been employed or engaged in a business concerned wholly or partly with the provision of public transport either within or to or from any part of Great Britain. To ensure there is no doubt that the person is eligible to join, we can only accept new members who are engaged in the industry at the time they apply to join. They are normally welcome, though, to remain members when they leave the industry.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to explain in a few words who we believe to be employed or engaged in the industry. This section explains how we decide, given the complexities.
In order to operate a public transport service a number of things have to be in place or bought in. The most important are:
In the provision of a bus service, for example, the bus operator generally itself employs the people who drive the buses, sell tickets and supervise operations, but some of these functions (e.g., ticket selling) may be contracted out. The buses may be maintained by direct labour, but this function may also be contracted out to engineering and cleaning companies.
On the national railways, the stations and track are generally owned by Network Rail, which provides no train services to the public, but without which there can be no train service. Network Rail in turn buys-in a range of services, including the provision of trains carrying engineering materials. The company also operates some major stations.
Marketing and travel enquiries functions are often contracted out. In addition, transport operators have to buy power and water, rent offices and obtain all the other services needed to run their business.
We have to decide which of the people operating or facilitating the public transport service are covered by our Deed. At one extreme, the person driving the bus or train is obviously eligible for membership. At the other, the person who delivers the stationery is probably not because public transport is not mainly what his job is about.
Significant parts of the businesses of DB Schenker, GBRailfreight and Freightliner Heavy Haul relate to running engineering trains which ensure there is track in place for passenger trains and we can accept members throughout these companies.
If in doubt, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Transport Benevolent Fund CIO
Transport Benevolent Fund CIO known as TBF, is a registered charity in England and Wales, 1160901, and Scotland, SC047016.
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