Railways: Safety

(asked on 9th February 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take with train operators to ensure the safety of (a) women and (b) vulnerable customers aboard trains as systems and services modernise.


Answered by
Huw Merriman Portrait
Huw Merriman
Minister of State (Department for Transport)
This question was answered on 21st February 2023

The safety and security of rail passengers is of paramount importance for the Government and train operators. We continue to work with partners across industry and Government to deliver against the Violence Against Women and Girls Transport Champions’ recommendations published last March.

The Government also requires train operators to design and deliver a Safeguarding on Rail Scheme which is designed to help all customers and especially those who are most vulnerable and in need of support. We continue to work with the industry, the British Transport Police and other partners to tackle anti-social, aggressive and intimidating behaviour on the railway and make it easier to report incidents. For example, the British Transport Police’s Travel Safety App (Railway Guardian) was released in July 2022, providing a one-stop-shop containing tools and advice to assist in safe travel across the railway. All passengers are encouraged to report any incidents or concerns they have to the British Transport Police’s ‘61016’ number. In addition, users of the Railway Guardian app can also report crime directly to the British Transport Police via its online crime reporting system, as well as there being a function to report safety issues directly to the rail operators.

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