Rail union TSSA has raised serious concerns after a violent incident unfolded on an East Midlands Railway service travelling from Derby to London St Pancras early this morning. The disturbance occurred on the 04:04 departure, with officers meeting the train when it reached Leicester.

According to initial reports, a man who had boarded without a valid ticket became increasingly aggressive, shouting at staff before running into the galley area. There he allegedly threw hot water at crew members and attempted to attack them with a fire extinguisher, which he then used to smash one of the train’s windows.

East Midlands Railway confirmed they are assisting the member of staff who suffered minor injuries during the incident and are working closely with British Transport Police as enquiries continue. The union says the episode adds to a growing sense of unease among frontline workers following a series of violent occurrences on the rail network.

TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust condemned the latest attack, saying:

“The incident at EMR is deeply troubling. It clearly could have been much worse and comes soon after the mass stabbing on an LNER train in Cambridgeshire at the beginning of the month. This week we also saw a man randomly attack two women on the London Underground. It is vital that our railways are safe for everyone, both travelling public and rail workers, at all times. Our union is all too aware of the growing risks faced by those on the front line of our transport system. Acts of violence and abuse are becoming disturbingly frequent, as highlighted in our recent report on Violence Against Transport Workers. The government needs to grip this and act swiftly to review security on the network. It should also halt proposed cuts budgets at British Transport Police and make sure there is no reduction in the presence of police on the railways.”

Image: TSSA