The Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union was formed in March 1993 from the amalgamation of the three rail unions - the Australian Railways Union (ARU), the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen (AFULE), the National Union of Railway Workers (NURWA) - and the Amalgamated Tramways and Motor Omnbibus Employees Association (ATMOEA). It was originally called the Public Transport Union and changed its name to the Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union (commonly known as the RTBU) in 1998.