New figures from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) show a substantial increase in reported violent incidents and harassment on Britain's rail services. In the year to March 2026, 13,464 assaults against passengers and members of the public were recorded on the mainline railway, marking a 36% rise from the previous year.
This figure represents the highest number recorded since the ORR began collecting this data in 2004. The regulator described the increase as "concerning" and stated it is collaborating with the industry to address the issue.
The statistics also indicate a 52% increase in harassment and a 30% rise in common assaults. Additionally, 11,289 assaults were reported against rail workers, a 12% increase, with over half (6,390 incidents) involving verbal abuse.
Richard Hines, the ORR's chief inspector of railways, said the organisation is working with industry and trade unions to tackle work-related violence and harassment. This includes identifying risks, implementing controls, encouraging incident reporting, and providing staff support.