How to stay safe on night buses and late trains in the UK

Posted on by Safety App UK team

On a night bus, sit downstairs near the driver; on a late train, choose a busy carriage and know where the passenger alarm is. Keep your phone charged, stay awake and aware, and if someone makes you feel unsafe on the railway, text British Transport Police on 61016. Missed the last train? Ask station staff for help and only use a black cab or a booked, licensed minicab to get home. In an emergency, always call 999.

Updated 2 October 2026 · Sources: British Transport Police, National Rail Conditions of Travel, Transport for London, Metropolitan Police

Save this number now: 61016
Text British Transport Police on 61016 to report anything on a train or at a station, discreetly and 24/7. Say what is happening, where (train, carriage, station) and when. In an emergency, call 999 instead.
Sit near the driver
On buses, stay downstairs and close to the front, where the driver and CCTV can see you.
Pick a busy carriage
Avoid empty carriages. Move if someone makes you uncomfortable, and note where the alarm is.
Text 61016
Report anything on the railway discreetly. Monitored 24/7 by British Transport Police.
Missed the last train?
Ask station staff first. If disruption stopped your journey, the train company should help you get there or find you a place to stay.
Phone about to die?
Text someone your plan now, then save battery. If it dies, ask staff, use a station help point or go to a busy, lit place.
Need a taxi?
Only hail a licensed taxi, like a London black cab. Book minicabs with a licensed firm and check the driver and car match the booking.

Who to contact on public transport

How does texting 61016 work?

61016 is British Transport Police’s text line for the railway. Texts are monitored 24/7, 365 days a year. Say what is happening, where you are (the train, the carriage or the station) and when, and you get a confirmation text back. It is designed to be discreet, so you can report without anyone around you knowing. Your network may charge a standard text rate, and you can’t send photos or video to it.

When should I call 999 instead of texting 61016?

Call 999 whenever you or someone else is in immediate danger, or a crime is happening right now and someone could be hurt. British Transport Police say there is no guarantee a text reaches them in time, so 61016 is for reporting, not for emergencies. If you can’t speak, stay on the line and press 55 when prompted on a mobile.

Where is the safest place to sit on a night bus?

Downstairs, near the front, within sight of the driver. It is busier, it is covered by the bus’s CCTV and the driver can radio for help. Avoid the back of the top deck late at night. Sit on the aisle side if you want to be able to get up and move easily, and keep your bag on your lap rather than on the seat next to you.

What should I do if someone harasses me on a train?

Move away, to another carriage with more people or nearer to the guard or driver. If it continues, text 61016 with the train, carriage and a description, or tell staff at the next station. If you feel threatened, call 999 or use the passenger alarm. Unwanted sexual behaviour, such as touching, rubbing or staring and following, is taken seriously and can be reported even after your journey.

What should I do if I miss the last train home?

Stay at the station and ask staff before you leave. If delays or cancellations stopped your journey, National Rail Conditions of Travel (condition 28.2) say a train company will, where it reasonably can, get you to your destination or provide overnight accommodation. Otherwise, look for a night bus or a booked taxi. If you end up walking, follow our walking home at night checklist, and see the latest rail crime figures.

What if my phone dies on the way home?

Plan for it: before your battery runs low, text a friend your route and expected arrival time, and carry a charged power bank. If the phone dies, go to people who can help: railway staff, a station help point (which British Transport Police say to use where there is no signal), the bus driver, or bar staff, where some venues run Ask for Angela. Stay somewhere busy and well lit.

How do I get a safe taxi home after a night out?

Use a licensed taxi you can hail, such as a London black cab with its orange ‘TAXI’ light, or book a licensed minicab. Transport for London says minicabs cannot be hailed in the street, and unbooked minicabs are illegal and uninsured. Check the driver’s name, photo, licence number and car registration match your booking before you get in. Our taxi and minicab safety guide explains the checks.

Frequently asked questions

British Transport Police describe the service as anonymous and discreet. They may text you back to ask for more details so they can respond.

Yes, British Transport Police cover the Underground. Mobile signal now reaches many Tube stations and some tunnel sections, but it can still drop between stations. If you can’t send a text, use the emergency handle or a help point, tell staff, or text when you reach a station with signal.

Yes. Text 61016 or report online to British Transport Police, with as much detail as you remember: date, time, train or station, and a description.

Follow our walking home alone at night checklist, or book a licensed taxi or minicab to meet you at the station.

If disruption stops a journey your ticket is valid for, National Rail Conditions of Travel say a train company will, where it reasonably can, arrange other transport to your destination or, if necessary, overnight accommodation. Ask staff at the station before leaving.

No. Transport for London says minicabs must be booked with a licensed operator, and unbooked minicabs are illegal and uninsured. Only black cabs can be hailed. See our taxi safety checks.

Sources

General safety information, not legal advice. In an emergency, always call 999.

Keep reading

Let someone you trust walk you home, virtually

Safety App UK lets your chosen contacts follow your journey live and get an SOS alert with your location in one tap, or automatically if you walk into an area with more reported crime. It also shows a live safety map and safer routes. Free for 7 days, then £2.99 a month.

Try Safety App UK free

Powered by