RAIL union TSSA has called on the government to make clear commitments on jobs, pay and conditions as services under the Govia Thameslink Railway umbrella begin running under public ownership.

GTR — which includes Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express — transferred into public hands on Sunday.

TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust welcomed the transfer but warned that as the programme of moving towards Great British Railways continues, “it’s vital the government makes firm commitments to protect the jobs, pay, rights and conditions of all railway workers — in Network Rail as well as the train companies.”

“Our union is clear — there must be a just transition to GBR because rail workers are the people with the skills and experience to make the new era of public ownership a success,” she said.

Ms Eslamdoust also raised concerns about cuts to rail spending on infrastructure, describing the network as “the driver of the British economy and the backbone of the nation.”

She added that the union remained convinced that “all parts of our railways” should be in public hands, “ending the vast profits made by freight and rolling stock companies.”