Reported assaults on Britain's rail services rise by more than a third
Image source, Getty Images By Katy Austin , transport correspondent and Lucy Hooker , business reporter Published 24 September 2026, 13:21 BST Updated 7 hours ago Reports of violent incidents and harassment on rail services "rose substantially" last year, figures from the rail regulator show. Reported assaults, including physical and verbal, were up 36% in the year to March 2026 compared with the previous year, according to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). In total 13,464 assaults against passengers and members of the public were recorded on Britain's mainline railway, the highest number recorded since the series began in 2004. The ORR said the figures were "concerning" and that it was working with the industry to address the problem. According to the figures, harassment increased by 52% compared with the previous year and common assaults rose by 30%. The increase comes against a backdrop of five years of rising reports of incidents and industry campaigns to ...