Assaults on Britain's Rail Services Rise Sharply, Regulator Reports
Incidents against passengers and staff increased by 36% in the year to March, reaching the highest number since records began in 2004.
Reported assaults, encompassing both physical and verbal attacks, have seen a substantial increase on Britain's mainline railway services, according to new figures from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). In the year leading up to March 2026, a total of 13,464 assaults against passengers and the public were recorded, a 36% rise compared to the previous year and the highest number documented since the ORR began collecting this data in 2004. The figures do not include incidents in Northern Ireland.
The regulator described the increase as "concerning" and stated it is collaborating with the rail industry to address the escalating problem. Harassment incidents saw a notable surge of 52% over the previous year, while common assaults rose by 30%. This trend follows five years of generally increasing reports of such incidents and various industry-led campaigns aimed at raising awareness.
It is noted that a single incident can be reported in multiple categories if it involves both harassment and a physical assault. In addition to passenger incidents, recorded assaults against members of the rail workforce also increased, rising by 12% to 11,289 in the same period. Of these, 2,487 were physical assaults, 6,390 involved verbal abuse, and the remainder were threats.
Richard Hines, the ORR's chief inspector of railways, emphasized the ongoing efforts to tackle work-related violence and harassment. "We're working with industry and our trade union colleagues to address work-related violence and harassment," Hines said. "This includes understanding where the risks are, putting effective controls in place, encouraging staff to report incidents and providing appropriate support afterwards."
The ORR's statistical release also highlighted other safety concerns, including 11 fatalities at mainline level crossings during the latest year, an increase of six from the preceding year. Eight of these involved pedestrians, while the remainder were users of road vehicles.