New report sets out actions to strengthen safety and tackle antisocial behaviour on Scotland’s railway
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop has announced acceptance in full of several recommendations for strengthening enforcement powers and improving safety on Scotland’s railway.
The Rail Enforcement Powers Working Group – Final Report and Recommendations published today brings together the views of key stakeholders across the rail industry, including rail operators, trade unions and police to assess how existing powers are used and where they could be strengthened to better address antisocial behaviour on trains and at stations.
The Working Group examined a range of issues including the use of Fixed Penalty Notices, options for dealing with repeat offenders, protections for rail workers, youth justice approaches and the effectiveness of existing railway byelaws.
The report makes 11 recommendations, several of which are already being progressed. These include:
Action already taken to lift the blanket alcohol ban on ScotRail services and replace it with time‑limited restrictions.
Progress on legislation to increase the level of Antisocial Behaviour Fixed Penalty Notices and widen the range of offences that can be dealt with quickly and proportionately out of court.
Immediate work to examine how enforcement powers can be applied more consistently, including closer partnership working between ScotRail, local authorities and police.
Further consideration of longer‑term options, such as enhanced protections for rail workers, measures to address repeat offending, and whether changes to primary or secondary legislation may be appropriate in the future. Decisions on primary legislation would be for the next administration to consider.
The Transport Secretary has now instructed officials to begin detailed legal, financial and policy analysis to determine how they can be taken forward.
Ms Hyslop said:
“Everyone who uses or works on Scotland’s railway has the right to feel safe. This report is a focused and constructive piece of work, developed with partners across the rail industry and justice system, and it provides a clear basis for strengthening how antisocial behaviour is tackled.
“We are already taking forward action on a number of the recommendations, including raising penalty levels and widening the ability to use Fixed Penalty Notices, while officials begin work now on assessing the remaining proposals. This collaborative approach is essential to delivering a safer and more welcoming railway for passengers and staff.”
Transport Scotland will coordinate the next phase of work, engaging with relevant stakeholders to assess the feasibility, costs and timescales associated with the recommendations. Some measures can be progressed immediately through partnership working, while others will require further consideration in light of legislative and financial constraints.
Kevin Lindsay, Scottish Organiser for ASLEF, the train drivers union said
“It is excellent that Ms Hyslop, MSP, Scottish Transport Secretary, has accepted 11 recommendations of the joint working party. Once these 11 recommendations are enacted on Scotland’s railway will be an even safer place for staff and passengers. This joint approach is refreshing and is a footprint for future to enable us all to deliver for the rail passengers of Scotland.”
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said:
“We welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s acceptance of all the group’s recommendations, including the crucial call for the Scottish Government to explore new legislation creating a standalone offence of assaulting a rail worker at work.
“RMT has long campaigned for this change and we urge the Scottish Government to bring forward this legislation as soon as possible and for all political parties in Scotland to commit to this protection for all our public transport workers.
“The UK government should also take inspiration from this progress and bring forward its own legislation to protect workers south of the border.”
Chief Superintendent Lorna McEwan, Divisional Commander – BTP Scotland said
“This is an extremely positive outcome and a significant milestone for everyone committed to improving safety across Scotland’s rail network. We fully welcome the recommendations of the Working Group and look forward to supporting their implementation in the months ahead. My sincere thanks go to all our partners for their hard work, collaboration, and dedication throughout this process. Together, these steps will strengthen the safety of the travelling public, and rail staff, and reinforce our shared commitment to keeping Scotland’s Railway’s safe for all.”
David Ross, ScotRail Chief Operating Officer, said:
“The railway is safe for customers and staff, and these proposals will make it even safer.
“We work very closely with the British Transport Police to create a safe environment and take a zero-tolerance approach when faced with unacceptable behaviour from a very small minority of passengers. From our expansive CCTV network to the Travel Safe Team, we continue to take action to keep people safe.
“We’ll work with Transport Scotland, trade unions, and the police to develop these proposals further to deliver an even safer railway for our customers and staff."