‘The violence is off the scale’: staff and passengers at risk as assaults on UK trains soar to record high

Allegations of a concerning rise in violence and assaults on UK trains have been raised by staff and passengers alike. According to the Office of Rail and Road, reported assaults have surged by a fifth to nearly 25,000 incidents in a year, with daily average physical assaults on railway workers reaching nearly two and a half. The unions, RMT and TSSA, have been campaigning for more staffed stations and policing, as the number of British Transport Police (BTP) officers has fallen by over 10% between 2024 and 2026.

Staff described the threats, verbal abuse, and violence they face as "off the scale." One rail worker, Dave, said that the situation has worsened since the pandemic, with many guards now getting verbally abused daily and more physical attacks. Steve, a guard in the north of England, recounted being punched in the head by a passenger. Even those working on infrastructure face abuse, such as being sworn at and spat at by passengers.

Drink, drugs, and mental health issues contribute to the violence, with train workers using body cameras to record incidents. However, not all assaults are reported. Emily, a 24-year-old passenger, was sexually harassed by a stranger on a late-night train between Glasgow and Edinburgh, though she chose not to report the incident.

Edward, a trans man, faced homophobic abuse on a packed train, which he did not report due to dissatisfaction with previous police responses. Sam, another passenger, was pushed and shoved by a drunken man, but she also decided not to report the incident.