This article explores how public transportation workers and passengers conceptually can be brought together. This is well worth discussing because of how these two positions are interconnected and simultaneously impacted by how public transportation is organized and operated. This applies to for example increased efficiency measures and digitalization, possibly well received by some passengers while likely resulting in reduced accessibility for others and more stress for workers. We therefore argue that a combined attention to both these positions can advance public transportation research in relation to social justice and other political questions, as well as deepen understanding of ongoing transformations in the sector.

Drawing on discourse theory, we analyse literature that engages with workers and passengers, to discuss different possibilities of articulating these positions as interrelated. The findings point to shortcomings with mainstream conceptualisations in transport research, which hamper simultaneous make attention to both positions. However, other findings highlight that this can be overcome in various ways and that doing so puts public transportation in new perspectives. The discussion concludes with several takeaways for continued research, such as for example that public transportation articulated as public space, can be valuable for conceptually bringing workers and passengers together.