The Office of Rail and Road released data indicating a substantial increase in violent incidents across Britain’s rail network. Reported assaults climbed 36% compared with the previous year, with 13,464 incidents recorded against passengers and members of the public on mainline railway services. This represents the highest figure in the series dating back to 2004. Harassment incidents rose 52% while common assaults increased by 30%.
Worforce members also experienced heightened levels of violence. Mainline railway workers faced 11,289 reported assaults, up 12% from the prior year. Of these incidents, 2,487 were physical assaults while over half—6,390 incidents—involved verbal abuse, with the remainder consisting of threats. On the London Underground, recorded assaults against passengers increased 20% to 5,534, though workforce assaults on the Underground declined 3% to 3,525.
Industry and regulatory bodies acknowledged the concerning trend and outlined response measures. The ORR indicated it was collaborating with the railway sector to address violence and harassment through risk identification, implementation of controls, encouragement of incident reporting, and victim support. Network Rail and train operators stated they were deploying body-worn cameras, improving reporting systems, and sharing information with British Transport Police.
Worker representatives and passenger advocates called for more comprehensive interventions. The RMT union, which reported that two-thirds of its members had experienced workplace violence, urged increased staffing levels and an end to lone working arrangements. The union also advocated for enhanced legal protections for transport workers and criticized reductions in British Transport Police funding. Transport Focus, a passenger advocacy organization, noted that while personal security ranked among passengers’ highest priorities, only 3% expressed dissatisfaction with station safety, though it acknowledged the rising figures warranted a more strategic approach to prevention.
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