Rail Operators Report Increase in Assaults on Women

Rail bosses have reported an increase in assaults on women aboard the Caledonian Sleeper train, along with a general rise in reported attacks across Scotland's rail network. Hannah Ross, chief executive of Scottish Rail Holdings, which operates the Caledonian Sleeper, informed members of the Scottish Parliament's transport committee about a "handful of issues of anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls."

When pressed about the trend, Ross acknowledged "an increase in reports being made to us," but declined to speculate whether this reflects a genuine rise in incidents or an improvement in reporting. She emphasized that the Caledonian Sleeper's board and executive team are taking the issue "incredibly seriously."

Joanne Maguire, managing director of ScotRail, corroborated the trend, stating there has been "an increase in reports of assaults" across its services. However, she noted that this increase is "proportionate in some cases to the numbers travelling." ScotRail actively encourages both passengers and staff to report any incidents. Maguire detailed that the company reviews verbal and physical assaults closely, attributing some of the broader issue to "a societal challenge with anti-social behaviour" that affects the railway.

Maguire highlighted that since ScotRail was brought under public ownership in 2022, "significant investment in safety, personal safety" has been made. This includes enhanced CCTV equipment at stations and on trains, and an increase in body-worn cameras available to staff, now numbering 1,000, up from 300. Similarly, Ross indicated that efforts are underway to expand the use of body-worn cameras on the Caledonian Sleeper, which was nationalized in 2023. Current CCTV systems on the sleeper trains are limited to covering "public areas."