RAIL union RMT has said it is “totally unacceptable” that there were nearly 4,000 violent assaults on trains in the past year.

The British Transport Police statistics uncovered today showed a 12 per cent year-on-year rise in incidents of violence against the person on trains in the year ending November,  a total of 3,991.

There were 699 robberies reported on trains over the same period, up 18 per cent, while sexual offences rose by 2.3 per cent to 1,419.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “There is no excuse for anyone to assault or abuse railway workers and we expect the full penalty of law to be enforced in all circumstances.

“A well-staffed railway discourages anti-social behaviour and helps rail workers feel safer.

“When there are failures on the railway, which are the fault of poor planning by train operators, railway workers have to deal with the brunt of public frustration and anger.

“The best way forward to prevent assaults and abuse of staff is a fully publicly owned, well-funded and adequately staffed railway that is accessible to all.”

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney obtained the data. She said: “This Conservative government is all bark and no bite.

“Rather than yet more rhetoric, we need a serious strategy to tackle this rise in crime on our railways.

“People deserve to feel safe when on public transport, yet these alarming figures tell a different story.

“Far too often our train carriages are being turned into crime scenes as violent criminals are allowed to terrorise other passengers with impunity.”

The Department for Transport, Home Office and British Transport Police were approached for a comment.