Rail Forum is proud to release the final episode in its Rail Safety Week 2025 podcast series, featuring a conversation between Laura Shoaf CBE, Chair of Shadow Great British Railways, and Elaine Clark OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Rail Forum and Industry Lead for Rail Safety Week. While Rail Safety Week ran from 16–22 June, this October release reinforces that safety is a year-round responsibility.
The episode focuses on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in the rail sector, with insights that are highly relevant across the wider transport network. Laura and Elaine discuss the critical role of leadership, culture, public awareness, and partnerships in creating safe journeys for all passengers and staff.
Laura explains why the issue is important both personally and professionally:
“This is an incredibly important issue nationally, but also for me personally. In 2021, I was asked to be a national transport champion on violence against women and girls across public transport. That experience really brought home how vital it is that networks are safe for women and girls – and why change needs to happen faster.”
Laura also highlights the scale of the problem:
“There are currently around 3,000 violent offences against women and girls recorded every single day – that’s one in 12 women. Even if you haven’t been directly affected, you are almost certainly interacting with someone who has. The scale of the problem is big, and it’s getting bigger.”
During the conversation, Laura and Elaine underline the importance of leadership commitment and cultural change, making it clear that harassment and abuse must never be tolerated. They point to practical measures such as better station design, improved lighting, visible staff presence, and the use of body-worn cameras. Just as vital, they say, is public awareness – helping passengers feel confident to report incidents and encouraging bystanders to act when something doesn’t feel right.
Elaine stresses that the issue is not just about passengers but affects everyone working in or using the railway:
“While the focus is on violence against women and girls, this issue affects us all – partners, daughters, sisters, colleagues. It’s about awareness, behaviour, and every one of us doing our bit.”
Elaine concludes with a call to action:
“Don’t do nothing. If you see something that doesn’t feel right, speak to a member of staff or British Transport Police. And for our supply chain, bring forward your ideas and innovations – because even small changes can make a big difference.”
Safeguarding passengers and staff is an ongoing responsibility for the entire transport sector, and it is critical that safety, respect, and wellbeing remains at the heart of operational and strategic decision-making.
A special thanks once more to the Department for Transport for sponsoring the Rail Safety Week 2025 podcast series and helping to bring rail safety to the forefront of people’s minds across the dedicated week and beyond.
Listen to the Rail Safety Week podcasts here. Alternatively, listen via your preferred podcast platform.