Reported assaults on UK trains hit record high, unions say staff at risk

Nearly 2,500 physical attacks on rail workers recorded last year, as number of transport police officers falls

By LineZotpaper

Published4 October 2026

Read Time3 min

The number of reported assaults on Britain’s railways has risen by a fifth to a record high of almost 25,000 incidents in a year, with rail staff bearing the brunt of the violence. Figures from the Office of Rail and Road show nearly 2,500 physical assaults on workers — an average of about seven every day. Unions say the figures are horrendous but unsurprising after the number of British Transport Police officers fell by more than 10 percent between 2024 and 2026.

When a train was halted outside Exeter St Davids station this week, rail staff leapt to one conclusion: there had been a violent incident on board. “Someone will have kicked off,” one staff member said. “It happens all the time. My boss got head-butted recently.” On this occasion they were wrong, but their assumption told a tale.

Figures released late last month by the Office of Rail and Road show that reported assaults on Great Britain’s railways rose by a fifth to nearly 25,000 incidents in a year. The total includes threats, verbal abuse and contact that may not have resulted in injury, but it also covers nearly 2,500 physical assaults on workers — seven per day.

Rail unions RMT and TSSA, which have campaigned for more staffed stations and policing, said the numbers were horrendous but unsurprising. The number of British Transport Police officers fell by more than 10% between 2024 and 2026, according to the unions.

Many rail staff now wear body cams to record incidents. “I think it’s so sad that we have those,” said Dave, a rail worker in south-west England with 20 years of experience. “The threats, the abuse, the violence we see is off the scale.” He said drink and drugs play a part, and that more passengers have mental health issues. “If you’re out on the street you can steer clear, but if you’re on a train or a platform you can’t. Our workplaces are becoming more and more dangerous.”

Steve, a guard based in the north of England, was punched in the head by a passenger. “It was my last train of the night. I’ve had to look away to see the door controls and the next thing I know, I’m waking up on the platform.” He said every guard gets verbally abused on a daily basis, with behaviour worsening since the pandemic. “Now it’s mostly bad days, and you’re searching for good days, where nothing’s said, or nothing happens.”

The unions have called for more staffed stations and increased policing to address the rising tide of violence on the network.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Rail staff face daily verbal abuse and physical attacks, with nearly 2,500 physical assaults in a year — an average of seven per day.
Passengers also feel unsafe, and the erosion of civil behaviour on public transport undermines public confidence in rail travel.
Without action, the trend may worsen as policing numbers have fallen and social issues such as mental health and substance abuse contribute to incidents.

Background

Reported assaults on Britain’s railways have been climbing, with the latest figures from the Office of Rail and Road covering 2025-26 showing a record high. Rail unions have long warned that cuts to British Transport Police staffing — down more than 10% between 2024 and 2026 — leave workers exposed. Staff body cameras are now common, a sign of the danger front-line workers face. The pandemic appears to have worsened passenger behaviour, with workers reporting a shift from occasional good days to mostly bad ones.

Key Perspectives

Rail workers: They face daily threats and physical violence, with many reporting that verbal abuse is routine and that the job has become more dangerous since the pandemic. Unions (RMT, TSSA): They argue that the only solution is more staffed stations and more police officers, and that the government and train operators have failed to protect staff. Government and train operators: They have not been directly quoted in reporting, but the falling number of BTP officers suggests either funding constraints or a different prioritisation of resources.

What to Watch

Whether the government responds to the record figures with additional funding for British Transport Police.
The number of staffed stations and whether train operators reverse any planned closures of ticket offices.
Future data releases from the Office of Rail and Road to see if the trend continues to rise.

Sources

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