Rail is the safest form of travel in Britain.
For every million journeys made on the railway, only 16 crimes
are recorded. The chances of you becoming a victim of crime while
using the railway remain extremely low.
To help you have a safe and secure journey, it’s important to be
prepared. Here are some tips that can help you.
Be prepared:
- Plan your journey
before you travel
- Make sure someone knows when and where you are travelling.
Carry a mobile phone with you in case you need to contact
them
- When travelling in a group, arrange a meeting point in case you
get separated on your journey
- If you have a disability and need extra help on your journey,
contact the relevant rail company in advance to arrange
this
- You can contact us if you need us by sending a text to
61016. This is especially useful in situations
when you may not want to or be able to make a call. Save
61016 in your phone under British Transport
Police. Find out
more.
At the station
- Report unattended bags or suspicious behaviour immediately to a
police officer or member of rail staff. You can also call us on
0800 40 50 40 or text 61016. If
you have no phone signal and can’t find a police officer or member
of staff, use a station help point.
Find out more about how you can help keep the railway safe and what
to look out for.
- Be aware of your surroundings and keep your belongings with you
at all times
- Avoid listening to headphones, as they can prevent you
from being aware of what's happening around you
- In and around railway stations, avoid poorly lit areas and try
to stay in sight of CCTV cameras or close to other people
- Always follow instructions from rail staff. Stay behind the
yellow line on platforms and never cross the tracks
On the train
- When you board the train, choose a seat in a carriage where you
feel comfortable
- Note where the emergency alarms and exits are in case you need
to use them
- Report unattended bags or suspicious behaviour immediately to a
police officer or member of staff. You can also call us on
0800 40 50 40 or text 61016.
- Keep your belongings with you at all times or within sight if
that’s not possible. If you’re leaving your seat or likely to fall
asleep, keep your valuables with you and out of sight
- Protect your privacy. Giving out personal details on a mobile
phone or displaying them on a luggage label, document or laptop
could lead to your identity being stolen or provide useful
information for thieves
- Be careful when using on board WiFi. Don’t send private
information unless using a secure webpage (look out for https at
the start of the webpage address and click on the padlock icon to
see security settings
Travelling at night
You should be as safe and secure travelling by rail at night as you
are in the day, but we understand that it can be daunting for some
people.
The public tell us that they want to see police officers out on
the network late at night and at weekends. In response, we make
sure we have officers in the right place at the right time, and run
regular late-night operations at stations and on services.
Since 2016, Transport for London has been running
Night Tube services on some Underground lines. We prepared
extensively for the launch of these services and recruited extra
police officers to help keep passengers safe and secure.
If you need our help on your night-time journey, speak to a
police officer or call us on 0800 40 50 40. You can also text us on
61016. Don’t forget, you can also speak to rail staff who we work
closely with.
Alcohol
Alcohol and the railway can be a dangerous cocktail. In the last
10 years, 25 people have been killed due to alcohol-related
incidents on the railway and 82 people were seriously injured (Rail
Safety and Standards Board).
We are asking you to
keep a clear head.
It is an offence to be drunk on a train, and you could be served
a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) if we believe you are drunk or
have committed an alcohol-related offence.
You could also be refused permission to travel if you are
drunk.