A railway company is launching a new campaign to rid the rails of discrimination and abuse.

South Western Railway (SWR) says that the All aboard initiative underlines the company’s zero tolerance approach to abusive and discriminatory behaviour on board trains, at stations or anywhere else on the railway, adding that everyone is welcome on its network.  SWR operates an extensive commuter network into London Waterloo, as well as travelling further afield to cities such as Exeter and Southampton.

The company is aware that many incidents go unreported but is seeking to reassure all customers and colleagues that any reports will be taken seriously and investigated appropriately.

In order to see how widespread incidents of inappropriate behaviour on the railway actually were, SWR commissioned YouGov to question the public.  The results revealed that 10% of the public has been the subject of abuse or discrimination by a fellow traveller on a train, while 15% said they had witnessed such behaviour.  More than half of those questioned – 52% – said they would report inappropriate behaviour but 56% added that they were unclear how to go about making such a report.  A further 11% said they were unsure whether they understood the steps they needed to take to report issues relating to behaviour.  That means two thirds of the British public are unsure how to report serious issues.

The new initiative has been launched as National Inclusion Week begins.  The week celebrates not only inclusion but also seeks to create inclusive workplaces. The theme for the week this year is ‘Take Action Make Impact’.

Posters promoting the new campaign will appear on trains and at stations from today.  There will also be special announcements along with posts on social media. An internal campaign will seek to ensure that SWR employees are not subjected to abuse or discrimination whilst at work. Formal inclusion and diversity training and mentoring programmes will be put in place by SWR, as well as creating active network groups to support and empower colleagues from under-represented and disadvantaged groups.

Customers and railway colleagues will be invited to take part in two events where they may pledge to treat everyone with respect and ensure that they report any incidents.  These will take place at Southampton Central on Tuesday 26 September and at Clapham Junction on Thursday 28 September.

SWR has also been providing colleagues such as guards, rail community officers, revenue protection staff and customer service assistants – including those at the gateline – with body-worn cameras.  These are now available to 30 locations across the network and act as a deterrent to those involved in anti-social behaviour and can be a vital tool in evidence gathering processes.

Anyone experiencing or witnessing discrimination or abuse should text British Transport Police (BTP) on 61016 or calling 999 in an emergency. Reports to the BTP can also be made using the Railway Guardian app.

Stuart Meek, Chief Operating Officer of South Western Railway, said: “Discrimination and abuse have no place on the railway or anywhere else in society. We want our customers to know that everyone is welcome on SWR, and we urge anyone who is subjected to or witnesses discrimination or abuse to report it to the BTP by texting 61016.

“This polling shows that one in ten of the public has been subjected to discrimination or abuse by a fellow passenger on the railway, and 15% has witnessed it. This is totally unacceptable, and we want to tackle it.

“It is encouraging that the public is likely to want to report such incidents, but the polling also shows that most of the public doesn’t know how to. Our All aboard campaign is all about raising that awareness so we can get to a point where no one faces discrimination or abuse on the railway.”

Huw Merriman MP, Minister for Rail and HS2, added: “Passenger safety is my top priority and everyone should be able to go about their journeys in peace. While incidents of abuse and discrimination are rare, it’s reassuring to see operators like South Western Railway highlight some of the challenges faced and the steps being taken to tackle them.

“I’m extremely proud of the British Transport Police’s ongoing work and tireless commitment to protect passengers from unacceptable behaviour, and I encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses an incident to report it to them.”

Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, said: “Everyone has the right to use public transport without fear of abuse or discrimination and TfL takes a zero-tolerance approach to both on London’s transport networks.

“It’s great to see South Western Railway launching this campaign to give passengers the confidence to report any discrimination they experience or witness on their network. Increased reporting and accountability will help to bring down instances of discrimination and abuse and build a better, safer transport network for everyone.”

Charlie Doyle, Assistant Chief Constable of BTP, commented: “Discrimination and abuse have no place in today’s society. Unfortunately, we still see too many cases of such behaviour, including on our rail network. Working with our industry partners, we endeavour to ensure that everyone feels safe travelling or working on the railways. I would encourage anyone who witnesses inappropriate behaviour or abuse to report it. Together we can make the railway network a hostile environment to offending.”

Mark Killick, Wessex Route Director for Network Rail, commented: “It’s really shocking to see the statistics that show the amount of discrimination and abuse some staff face across the rail industry. We stand for zero tolerance against this sort of behaviour, and no one should ever have to experience it in their work place.

“Network Rail recently launched its staff anti-abuse campaign titled ‘Behind Every Uniform’ – the aim of which was similar and reminds people that behind the uniforms there are real people with real lives, and we hope these campaigns are really eye opening for passengers and remind people that all staff working in stations or on trains deserve to be treated with respect.”