When the unexpected happens: what the recent UK train stabbing shows us

On 1 November 2025 a mass stabbing attack occurred aboard a train travelling from Doncaster to London’s King’s Cross. Passengers described chaos: people bleeding, seats soaked in blood, others trying to escape through the train carriage. Although such incidents are rare on UK rail networks, they are a wake-up call: confined spaces like train carriages create very specific vulnerabilities.

As someone who teaches self‐defence and safety, my aim is not to raise panic but to increase preparedness. Here are what I see as key protective strategies when travelling by train— followed by incident-specific tactics: when to hide, when to call emergency services, when to pull the emergency handle.

Before you step onto the train: prevention & awareness

• Choose your seat and carriage wisely. If possible sit somewhere you can see both ends of the carriage (so you can monitor movement), and ideally near a door or visible exit point.

• Be aware of your surroundings. Are there people acting strangely? Are there dense luggage items that block exit paths? Is the carriage sparsely populated?

• Have an exit plan in mind. Know where the nearest door is, and second-nearest. On modern UK services there are doors between carriages — be aware of how to reach them.

• Keep your mobile phone accessible and charged. In the event of an incident you may need to call 999 or the emergency number on the train.

If something starts to go wrong: quick response behaviours

Let’s imagine the scenario: you hear shouting, people moving rapidly, perhaps someone is attacking others. What do you do?

First reaction: assess & distance.

• If there’s an obvious threat, there are weapons present and the attacker is moving rapidly, then (unless you have been professionally trained) your focus should be on escaping.

• Move away from the carriage/section if possible, towards an exit or door, signalling to others.

• Try to avoid being boxed-in or forced into a corner. Because train carriages are narrow and confined, your options are more limited.

Use the emergency handle/alarm on the train.

• Most UK trains are equipped with emergency alarm handles/buttons — these alert the driver and rail staff that something serious is happening.

• Pulling it will force the train to slow/stop at the next appropriate station for intervention. In this recent case: the train was diverted to the slow line and made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon railway station.

• Once stopped the threat may be contained, and help can board. So if you judge you are in imminent danger and cannot immediately access a safe exit, the emergency alarm is critical.

Hide / barricade if escape or alarm isn’t immediately possible.

• If the attacker is between you and an exit, or you cannot safely reach the alarm, then find a place to hide:

• Inside a toilet/bogie if locked, preferably with a solid lock. Witnesses in this case described people locking themselves into the buffet car.

Calling for help

When you realise there is an attack or someone is being assaulted:

• Phone 999 (UK emergency) - ask for police & ambulance. If you cannot call yourself, and it is safe to use your voice - shout clearly and repeatedly: 'Somebody call the police and ambulance!' If you see someone with their phone out, shout directly at them to call for emergency services.

• Alert other passengers around you. Call firmly: 'There’s a serious knife threat' - it can galvanise others. Collective action often helps.

Why this matters for women travelling solo

As someone who runs women-only self-defence workshops I emphasise that travel (public transport, trains, night journeys) often presents scenarios where escape routes are limited, visibility is less, and others may underestimate the risk. The above measures help shift you from “possible victim” to “prepared passenger”.

• Sharing your itinerary with a friend or family member.

• Sitting in zones with more people or nearer to staff or exit.

• Avoiding earphones, being alert to surroundings.

• Keeping essentials (phone, charger, ID) accessible.

• Knowing where emergency handles/alarms are in the carriage.

• Having improvised weapons at hand when spotting danger, or preparing to use everyday items as shields and barriers.

• Having an exit plan.

Conclusion

While you can never anticipate every violent act, you can increase your chances of staying safe. By combining situational awareness, planning, use of train-specific safety features (alarm handles, calling emergency services), and self-defence mindset, you greatly boost your resilience and preparation.

For anyone reading this who is interested in diving deeper into self-defence strategies for public transport, trains, or crowded spaces — we cover these topics in my upcoming course (or workshop) and you’re very welcome to join.

Stay safe. Stay alert. Empowered travel is possible.