Reports of violent behavior and harassment on Britain’s rail network have increased significantly, with authorities labeling the trend as deeply concerning. According to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the industry regulator, assaults—including both physical and verbal abuse—rose sharply in the year leading up to March 2026.
Official data reveals that 13,464 assaults against passengers and members of the public were recorded on the mainline railway, marking a 36% increase from the previous year. This figure represents the highest number of incidents since record-keeping began in 2004. The statistics cover Great Britain only and exclude Northern Ireland.
The ORR noted that harassment incidents climbed by 52% year-on-year, while common assaults grew by 30%. These numbers reflect a continuation of a five-year upward trend in reported incidents, occurring alongside ongoing industry campaigns aimed at raising awareness about safety.
Because assaults are categorized by type, a single event may generate multiple reports; for instance, a situation involving both harassment and physical violence would be counted in both categories.
Workplace safety remains a critical focus, with 11,289 reported assaults against rail employees, a 12% increase. Among these, 2,487 involved physical attacks, 6,390 consisted of verbal abuse, and the remainder were threats. Richard Hines, the ORR’s chief inspector of railways, emphasized the organization’s collaboration with industry partners and trade unions to mitigate work-related violence.
“This includes understanding where the risks are, putting effective controls in place, encouraging staff to report incidents and providing appropriate support afterwards,” Hines said.
In other safety-related data, the report highlighted that 11 members of the public lost their lives at mainline level crossings during the latest year, an increase of six from the prior period. Of those fatalities, eight were pedestrians and the remaining three were road vehicle occupants.
Poor rail staff. Over 11,000 assaults against workers is unacceptable. Where is the government response to this crisis?
The harassment stats are even worse. It’s not just physical violence; the verbal abuse and threats are out of control.
Wait, 36%? That’s a massive jump. Are they sure this isn’t just more people reporting incidents now?
This is absolutely terrifying. I took the train yesterday and felt unsafe for the first time in years. Something has to change.