Trainline Launches SafeSpot: A New In-App Safety Feature For UK Rail Passengers

Published on July 23, 2025

In a game-changing enhancement to help ensure passenger safety, Trainline has announced the launch of SafeSpot, a new in-app feature for reporting incidents on UK trains. This will reduce response time and help to make the rail network safer.

New figures emerged today showing that almost a third (29%) of UK adults do not know who to report an incident witnessed or experienced on a train. Among those 65 and older, this number grows to 37%. This data illustrates the need for an easy-to-use system to keep RRT/RT management aware of the problem and allow for timely intervention.

Seamless Integration with British Transport Police

Users of Trainline can use SafeSpot to reach directly and quickly to British Transport Police (BTP) without the need to remember contact numbers, or tell them their location. Using cutting-edge technology, Trainline is able to quickly pinpoint which train a passenger is on, and this information can be added to an emergency message to BTP.

Usually when incidents are reported through BTP’s or country’s 61016 texts service it takes multiple messages to extract vital information like the train headcode. Thanks to SafeSpot, these activities are automated, data is quickly collected with the response time being minimised.

A Collaborative Effort for Safer Journeys

The development of SafeSpot was a collaborative effort involving Trainline, the British Transport Police, and organizations dedicated to improving rail safety. Workshops with stakeholders like Railway Children, Missing People, and Samaritans informed the design and functionality of the feature, ensuring it addresses real-world needs effectively.

Steve Gooder, Vice President of Product at Trainline, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that this encourages confidence when travelling by train and gives customers more control over their experience, this is at the core of Trainline’s purpose.

Accessibility and Availability

SafeSpot is now live within the Trainline app, accessible to all UK rail passengers. Users can find it under the Account tab or by selecting the help icon on any screen. The feature is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring readily available assistance when it is needed urgently.

A Step Towards a Safer Rail Network

The introduction of a concept like SafeSpot is an important step in making the rail network safer. By making it possible for passengers to report such incidents in a swift and accurate manner, Trainline and its partners are contributing to the developing an environment where well-being is the norm and fast response practice.

Because SafeSpot can identify a passenger’s location and forward critical information to the British Transport Police instantly and with very little effort, action can be taken without delay. This will no doubt decrease response time, and possibly diffuse issues before they become larger problems. With heightened levels of insecurity, especially for passengers who may not be aware of how to report crimes, you can close the loop on safety while traveling on Kinetic!

However, Trainline’s move also carries broader implications for society at large, marking a change in private companies, law enforcement, and the public working together to tackle safety concerns. Our collaboration with the British Transport Police and other safety groups is evidence of that shared commitment to ensuring passengers can travel with confidence on a rail network that puts their well-being first.

Indeed, the SafeSpot technology could pave the way for other transport networks to take similar strides towards more inventive and preemptive passenger protection measures. It also reflects the developing focus on customer service in the travel space with user experience coming to more heavily include security and satisfaction.

For more information on staying safe while traveling by train, passengers are encouraged to visit the British Transport Police’s official website: https://www.btp.police.uk.