Reported assaults on Britain's rail services rise by more than a third

According to data released by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), incidents involving violence and harassment on rail services saw a significant increase last year. The number of reported assaults, encompassing both physical and verbal attacks, jumped by 36% in the year leading up to March 2026 compared to the prior year. In total, 13,464 assaults were recorded against passengers and the general public on Britain’s mainline rail network, marking the highest figure since records began in 2004.

The ORR described these statistics as troubling and emphasized ongoing collaboration with the rail industry to tackle the issues. Harassment cases surged by 52%, while common assaults climbed by 30% within the same period. This rise continues a trend observed over the past five years, during which initiatives aimed at raising awareness about such incidents have also been in place. The classification system for assaults is detailed, meaning an incident can be counted in multiple categories, such as cases involving both harassment and physical violence.

Workforce assaults also saw a rise, with 11,289 reported incidents on the mainline railways—an increase of 12% year-on-year. Of these, 2,487 were physical attacks, over half (6,390) involved verbal abuse, and the remainder were threats. Richard Hines, the ORR’s chief inspector of railways, highlighted efforts underway to address violence and harassment toward staff. He stated: “We’re working with industry and our trade union colleagues to address work-related violence and harassment. This includes understanding where the risks are, putting effective controls in place, encouraging staff to report incidents and providing appropriate support afterwards.”

The data set covers mainline services in England, Scotland, and Wales but excludes Northern Ireland. It also incorporates figures from the London Underground, light rail, trams, and metro systems. Notably, assaults recorded on the London Underground increased by 20% to 5,534 over the year, although assaults against staff decreased by 3% to 3,525. Unlike the mainline system, Transport for London records only the most severe part of each incident rather than multiple aspects.

Responding on behalf of Network Rail and train operators, a spokesperson stressed that all parties are actively working to reduce risks and protect passengers and employees. Steps include enhancing information sharing, improving incident reporting, and introducing body-worn cameras. The spokesperson remarked, “Keeping passengers and colleagues safe is at the heart of everything we do,” adding that violence, abuse, and intimidation are wholly unacceptable. The rail industry cooperates closely with British Transport Police to investigate offenses, support victims, and pursue justice.

Passenger advocacy group Transport Focus noted that the ORR’s findings align with its own research showing that personal security ranks among passengers’ top concerns. Despite this, only 3% of surveyed passengers expressed dissatisfaction with safety at stations. Transport Focus acknowledged that some of the rise in incidents may be due to improved reporting but stressed that each report represents an individual adversely affected. They called for “a much more strategic approach” to reducing violence and harassment on the railways.

The RMT union, representing railway workers, echoed similar trends, citing its own data which found that two-thirds of its members have experienced workplace violence. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey urged increased staffing levels on public transport and an end to lone working as necessary measures. He also called for enhanced legal protections for public transport staff facing assault, criticized funding cuts to British Transport Police as “disastrous,” and advocated for bringing outsourced security personnel in-house “as a matter of urgency.”

In related statistics from the latest ORR figures, 11 members of the public died at mainline level crossings during the year, an increase of six from the previous period. Among these fatalities, eight were pedestrians and the remainder were occupants of road vehicles

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