Violence against transport workers ‘out of control’ - says TSSA 

Marking Workers’ Memorial Day (Tuesday 28 April), rail union TSSA has published stark new figures exposing the scale of violence faced by staff across Britain’s railways - warning the situation is now “out of control.” 

TSSA’s latest report, ‘Keep Transport Workers Safe on Britain’s Railway – Reps Violence at Work Survey’, reveals that more than half (55.5%) of workplace representatives have experienced violence or abuse on the job, often repeatedly. 

Incidents reported include verbal and racial abuse, spitting, physical assaults, threats involving weapons, harassment and, in some cases, sexual assault. 

These reps, who represent colleagues in offices, depots and stations, describe a working environment where frontline staff are increasingly exposed to aggression from passengers and the public. Others highlighted risks faced even before reaching work, including walking along poorly lit routes and encountering abuse at work sites. 

TSSA says the rise in violence reflects wider societal pressures, including the cost of living crisis, stagnant wages, and reduced access to mental health services, with transport workers now bearing the brunt. 

The union also warns that too many perpetrators are escaping consequences, citing concerns that the British Transport Police are not being sufficiently resourced to deal with the scale of the problem.

TSSA has been campaigning against workplace violence across the rail network since early last year. 

Commenting, TSSA General Secretary, Maryam Eslamdoust, said: 

“On Workers’ Memorial Day we remember those who have lost their lives because of their work, and that must include our member Belly Mujinga. Belly was spat at by a passenger carrying Covid and later died after contracting the virus. We must remember her and do better as an industry to protect transport workers. 

"Let’s be honest this is getting completely out of control. Our members are being punched, spat at and abused just for doing their jobs. I am seeing women being repeatedly hit for trying to stop fare dodging on my own doorstep in Liverpool Street station. No one should have to put up with that, not for a second. 

“This isn’t happening in a vacuum. People are under huge pressure, the cost of living is biting, wages are not covering the basics, and access to mental health support has been hollowed out. But transport workers are the ones getting it in the neck and that is not acceptable. 

“And too often, the people responsible are getting away with it. That is not good enough. The British Transport Police need proper resources so they can do their job. 

“Employers also need to step up especially after the stabbing on LNER. Posters, CCTV and the odd campaign will not cut it anymore. We need properly staffed stations and trains, an end to lone working, and real protection for staff on the frontline. 

“No one should go to work worrying they will be assaulted. It is horrendous and it has to stop.” 

*The survey can be found here by looking under the heading ‘the focus for 2026’. 

It was conducted online from 16th to 30th September 2025 and involved staff reps’ answering 29 questions, some of which required tick box responses whilst others sought more information through participants being able to complete free text entries.  

*Participation - 89 TSSA reps participated in the survey, with responses received from people across Britian’s railway industry, including most of the Train Operating Companies (24 reps), Network Rail (35 reps) and TfL (12 reps).