Reports of violent incidents and harassment on rail services “rose substantially” closing yr, figures from the rail regulator display.
Reported assaults, together with bodily and verbal, had been up 36% within the yr to March 2026 when put next with the former yr, in line with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
In general 13,464 assaults in opposition to passengers and participants of the general public had been recorded on Britain’s mainline railway, the very best quantity recorded for the reason that sequence started in 2004.
The ORR mentioned the figures had been “concerning” and that it used to be operating with the business to handle the issue.
According to the figures, harassment higher by way of 52% when put next with the former yr and commonplace assaults rose by way of 30%.
The build up comes in opposition to a backdrop of 5 years of emerging reviews of incidents and business campaigns to lift consciousness.
Assaults on the mainline railway are recorded in line with their kind. As a outcome each and every incident can result in reviews in a couple of class, for instance if any individual is pressured after which bodily assaulted.
There had been additionally 11,289 reported assaults in opposition to participants of the personnel on the mainline railway, up 12% when put next with the former yr.
Of the ones 2,487 had been bodily assaults, whilst greater than part (6,390 incidents) concerned verbal abuse. The relaxation had been threats.
“We’re working with industry and our trade union colleagues to address work-related violence and harassment,” mentioned Richard Hines, the ORR’s leader inspector of railways.
“This includes understanding where the risks are, putting effective controls in place, encouraging staff to report incidents and providing appropriate support afterwards,” he mentioned.
The statistics come with mainline rail services in England, Scotland and Wales, however no longer Northern Ireland. The information unlock additionally covers the London Underground, trams, metros and different mild rail services.
On the London Underground, recorded assaults higher 20% to five,534 in the most recent yr, however reported personnel assaults fell 3% to a few,525.
Transport for London does no longer report more than one facets of each and every incident. Instead it data probably the most critical facet reported.
A spokesperson responding on behalf of Network Rail and the educate firms mentioned all operators had been operating to cut back possibility and save you hurt by way of sharing knowledge, bettering reporting processes and deploying body-worn cameras.
“Keeping passengers and colleagues safe is at the heart of everything we do,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“Violence, abuse and intimidation directed at passengers or staff are completely unacceptable. The rail industry works closely with British Transport Police to investigate incidents, support victims and bring offenders to justice.”
The RMT union, representing rail business employees, mentioned the figures corresponded with the union’s personal figures indicating two-thirds of its participants had skilled violence at paintings.
RMT normal secretary Eddie Dempsey referred to as for an build up in staffing on public shipping, together with an finish to lone operating, to fight the issue.
“We also clearly need stronger legal protections for public transport workers against assaults at work,” he mentioned.
He mentioned cuts to British Transport Police investment have been “disastrous” and referred to as for outsourced safety and enforcement workforce to be introduced in-house “as a matter of urgency”.
Other notable figures from the statistical unlock come with that 11 participants of the general public died at mainline degree crossings in the most recent yr, six greater than the former yr. Eight had been pedestrians and the others had been street automobile customers.