Reported assaults on Britain's rail services rise substantially
Summary
Reports of violent incidents and harassment on Britain’s mainline rail services increased sharply in the year ending March 2026. The Office of Rail and Road recorded 13,464 assaults against passengers and the public, the highest number since 2004, and also noted a rise in attacks on railway workers.Key Facts
- Assaults on passengers rose 36% to 13,464 incidents on Britain’s mainline railways.
- Harassment cases increased by 52% and common physical assaults rose by 30% compared to the previous year.
- Assaults against railway workers rose 12%, with 2,487 physical attacks and 6,390 cases of verbal abuse.
- Each assault may fall into multiple categories, such as both harassment and physical attack.
- The Office of Rail and Road called the rise in violence “concerning” and is working with industry and unions to reduce risks and support staff.
- There were 11 deaths at mainline railway level crossings, up by six from the previous year.
- The data does not include incidents in Northern Ireland.
- Rail industry campaigns have been running to raise awareness about violence and harassment for the past five years.
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