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Reported assaults on Britain rail services rise 36% in latest year
The rail regulator recorded 13,464 assaults on Britain’s mainline railway in the year to March 2026, the highest since the series began in 2004.
Reports of violent incidents and harassment on Britain’s rail services rose substantially over the past year, according to figures from the rail regulator cited by BBC Business.
The Office of Rail and Road data showed reported assaults on the mainline railway increased 36% in the year to March 2026, reaching 13,464 incidents involving passengers and members of the public, the highest total recorded since the regulator began tracking the series in 2004.
BBC Business reports that harassment was up 52% year over year and common assaults rose 30%. The regulator also said it was working with the rail industry to address the problem.
The figures also covered assaults on rail workers, with 11,289 reported against members of the workforce on the mainline railway, up 12%, including 2,487 physical assaults and 6,390 cases involving verbal abuse, plus threats. The report adds that London Underground assaults increased 20% to 5,534, while workforce assaults fell 3% to 3,525.
BBC Business notes ORR chief inspector Richard Hines said the regulator is working with industry and trade unions to understand risks, put controls in place, encourage staff to report incidents, and provide support afterward.