Recent data from a rail regulator has revealed a notable escalation in violent and harassing incidents on railway services across the UK. For the year ending in March 2026, reported assaults, which include both physical and verbal attacks, surged by 36% compared to the preceding year, according to statistics released by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). This marks the highest level of recorded assaults since data collection began in 2004, with a total of 13,464 reported incidents involving passengers and other members of the public.
Types of Incidents Reported
The ORR noted that these figures are troubling and stated that efforts are underway to collaborate with industry partners to tackle the rising problem of violence on trains. The data indicates that harassment incidents surged by 52% year-on-year, while common assaults also saw a significant rise of 30%. These figures come after five consecutive years of increased reports of violence, despite various campaigns aimed at raising awareness regarding the issue.
The classification of assaults is determined based on their nature, meaning that a single incident can fall into multiple categories. For instance, an individual who is both harassed and physically assaulted may be included in different reporting categories.
In addition to passenger incidents, there were also 11,289 reports of violence against railway workers, representing a 12% increase from the previous year. Among these incidents, there were 2,487 physical assaults, while verbal abuse accounted for the majority, with 6,390 reported cases. The remaining incidents consisted of threats directed at staff members.
Efforts to Improve Safety
Richard Hines, the chief inspector of railways with the ORR, emphasized that collaboration with industry stakeholders and trade unions is essential to combat work-related violence and harassment. Efforts are focused on identifying risks, implementing effective controls, promoting incident reporting among staff, and providing necessary support following incidents.
The report encompasses mainline rail operations throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, but excludes data from Northern Ireland. Notably, the statistics also include information from the London Underground, trams, metros, and various light rail services. In the latest reporting period, incidents of violence on the London Underground rose by 20%, totaling 5,534, while assaults against the workforce dipped by 3%, amounting to 3,525 incidents.
Transport for London has indicated that it does not track the multiple elements of each incident, and reports only the most severe aspects of the events recorded. A spokesperson for Network Rail and train operators stated that all service providers are committed to reducing risks and preventing harm through improved information sharing, enhanced reporting systems, and the adoption of body-worn cameras.
Union Reactions and Recommendations
The RMT union, which represents rail industry employees, has stated that its findings reflect similar trends, citing that approximately two-thirds of its members reported experiencing violence while working. General Secretary Eddie Dempsey called for increased staffing levels across public transport, specifically advocating for an end to lone working scenarios. He urged for stronger legal protections for public transport workers from workplace violence and raised concerns about cuts to British Transport Police funding, suggesting that such measures have had detrimental effects on safety. Dempsey also proposed that outsourced security personnel be integrated with in-house teams to bolster safety measures.
In addition, the report highlighted that in the latest year, 11 individuals lost their lives at mainline level crossings, which is an increase of six fatalities from the previous year, including both pedestrians and road vehicle occupants.
