How protected are Britain’s trains? Assaults on rail community TRIPLE in a decade as authorities orders assessment into safety after Huntingdon knife assault

An official review of rail security following the Huntingdon knife rampage coincides with data showing assaults are at their highest level for more than a decade.

The Office of Rail and Road found last month that the overall number of assaults on the rail network rose from 3,211 in 2014-15 to 10,231 over the past year.

Meanwhile, the British Transport Police (BTP) recorded a 5.4 per cent increase in total reported crimes on the network in 2024-25 compared to the previous year.

The proportion of crimes solved by the force dropped to just 11.9 per cent in 2024-25, down from 12.5 per cent the year before. 

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has promised a review of UK rail security after 11 people were injured in a mass stabbing on board an LNER train on Saturday night.

The 6.25pm service was heading from Doncaster to London when a knifeman went on a rampage through the carriages lasting 14 minutes. 

Quick thinking from the driver – Gulf War veteran Andrew Johnson – enabled the train to make an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station where police were waiting. 

Despite a rise in assaults, the 394 knife and sharp instrument offences recorded by BTP in the year to June 2025 represents a 33 per cent decrease compared to the previous year. 

While there have been calls for airport-style scanners at major stations in the wake of the LNER attack, Ms Alexander argues these would ‘make life impossible’ for passengers.

She told Sky News: ‘I don’t think airport-style scanners would be the way to go. We have thousands of railway stations across the UK, and those stations have multiple entrances and multiple platforms.

‘What we can’t do is make life impossible for everyone, but we do need to take sensible and proportionate steps to make public transport safe.’

The security review could provide other answers, she said.

For example, after the 2017 London Bridge terrorist attack, in which a van was driven at pedestrians, vehicle blockers were put in place for pavements on several bridges.

Ms Alexander also recognised the ‘incredible bravery’ of train staff, the train driver, the network rail controller, the emergency services and the person who put himself in harm’s way to save passengers – all of whom contributed to saving lives.

Many rail passengers have demanded increased security on trains and stations. 

Only two in five people said they felt safe on public transport, according to a 2024 Department of Transport survey. 

Just a third of female respondents said they felt safe compared with nearly half of all men.

Separately, a survey of rail staff in Cambridge suggested 32 per cent had suffered violent attacks, with 30 per cent experiencing sexual misconduct.

The hero rail worker who suffered serious injuries during the Huntingdon knife attack was pictured for the first time. 

Samir Zitouni, 48, was one of 11 people injured during the mass stabbing on board a train on Saturday night.

Mr Zitouni, who has worked for LNER for more than 20 years, remains in hospital in a stable but ‘critically unwell’ condition following the attack.

Paying tribute to his ‘incredible bravery’, David Horne, managing director at LNER, said: ‘In a moment of crisis, Sam did not hesitate as he stepped forward to protect those around him.

‘His actions were incredibly brave, and we are so proud of him, and of all our colleagues who acted with such courage that evening.

‘Our thoughts and prayers remain with Sam and his family. We will continue to support them and wish him a full and speedy recovery.’

In a statement, Mr Zitouni’s family said: ‘We have been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and kindness shown to Sam, and by the many well wishes for his recovery.

‘The care provided by the hospital and the support from his colleagues at LNER has been incredible.

‘We are immensely proud of Sam and his courage. The police called him a hero on Saturday evening, but to us – he’s always been a hero.’

Earlier this week, Sir Keir Starmer thanked the ‘heroic actions’ of train staff, including Mr Zitouni, who put themselves in harm’s way to save ‘countless lives’.

Ms Alexander said Mr Zitouni ‘went to work on Saturday morning and left a hero’.

‘I know the British Transport Police have reviewed CCTV footage from what happened and he literally put himself in harm’s way. There will be people who are alive today because of his actions.’

She added: ‘He went to work on Saturday morning to do his job and he left work a hero.’

Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, was charged on Monday with 10 counts of attempted murder.

He also faces charges of possessing a bladed article and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was remanded in custody until a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1.