I’m a train conductor at Northern - this is some of the abuse I’ve had including being spat on

Yet for many staff working for Northern Trains, this has been a reality. Workers at the company, which operates services across the north including throughout Greater Manchester, have spoken out about the abuse they have faced whilst working. 

Lewis Tracey has worked out of the company’s base in Wigan for eight years. He recalled some of the horrific times he has been abused on the job, including being spat in the face. 

“I had a lad spit in my face and tried to punch me a few years ago,” Lewis said. “It was completely out of the blue, but that’s the sort of thing you have to put up with.

“With some people you can reason with them, but with others there is no reasoning whatsoever, no matter what you do. It does get stressful, there’s no denying it. They see the uniform and want someone to vent at, but sometimes the abuse does get really personal and they don’t realise how much it can affect that person."

He added: “The body-worn cameras and CCTV do make a difference, because people think twice before they abuse someone or hit someone because they know they’re on camera."

People who witness physical or verbal attacks are encouraged to report them to British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40. British Transport Police’s ‘Railway Guardian’ app is available to download from Google Play and the Apple App Store.