Safe Christmas Travel | Railway Safety Tips for Students

Are you a student feeling nervous about your Christmas travel plans this holiday season?

If so, fear not: here at imabi, we’ve put together our best tips for staying safe if you’re travelling home by train this year:

We Recognise the Need for Safe Christmas Travel

The festive season heralds joy and happy reunions, especially for those students heading home from university.

However, amidst the Yuletide celebrations, safety during Christmas travel — notably on our railways — remains a critical concern.

While the majority of people will make it home without an issue in time for celebrations with family and friends, sadly that won’t be the case for all.

It's important to recognise that violence, such as harassment and assault, is widespread on public transport. Everyone deserves the right to feel safe but, unfortunately, that isn’t always the case in today’s society. It should, though, be something we vigorously strive towards.

And with hundreds of thousands of people travelling home for Christmas over the next week, we should work together to help keep both ourselves and others safe.

So, What Can You Do?

Planning ahead and taking sensible precautions is key.

With limited daylight hours in winter, it’s best to avoid travelling in the dark, particularly in the evenings.

We also recommend carrying a fully charged mobile phone, tablet or smart watch, as these can be a lifeline in emergencies.

Whether on the train itself or at a station, staying alert and actively reporting inappropriate behaviours promotes a safer environment for everyone.

These behaviours can be anything from unwanted physical contact, to invading personal space, to inappropriate comments, to persistent staring — anything, essentially, that makes you or others around you feel uncomfortable.

Additionally, tools like The British Transport Police’s Railway Guardian app allow anonymous reporting, enabling you to be an active bystander without putting yourself in harm’s way.

Staying Connected During Christmas Travel

Informing loved ones about travel routes and estimated arrival times adds an extra layer of security. Simple gestures like texts or calls offer reassurance, while keeping family and friends informed about your journey.

The Railway Guardian app also provides features for real-time location sharing with trusted contacts. This can be invaluable for students navigating connecting trains or updating their whereabouts, enabling loved ones to remotely track journeys and intervene if necessary.

Effective Planning This Festive Season

Due to the ongoing rail strikes across the country, it’s important that students plan their journeys well in advance, notify others of their plans and stick to them.

By sorting your travel plans ahead of time, you can let others know your intended routes and minimise any disruption to them.

Another benefit of the Railway Guardian app is that there are real-time news reports, travel updates and guides available 24/7 to help rail users — ensuring you’re prepared for any unexpected scenario.

Furthermore, our partnership with Crimestoppers allows people using the app to quickly access the charity’s reporting platform if they encounter criminal behaviour — whilst also guaranteeing the same level of anonymity and the quick exit function that characterises its service.

Enabling Safe Christmas Travel

Rail Strikes are a continuous issue affecting a large majority across the country.

Ultimately, people need to be vigilant and take care. By following the advice above, we hope all students using public transport to travel home for Christmas this year will do so safely.

Knowing that support and guidance is just a tap away provides the peace of mind and reassurance that you need this festive season.

To find out more about our offer at imabi, reach out to us through our contact form.

Why not read our previous blog to discover how imabi can help with calling out bad behaviour?