Sexual assaults and racially aggravated offences on trains and in stations have soared over the last five years despite an overall fall in crime rates, according to a new report.
Sexual offences were up 21 per cent in 2013-14 compared with the 2009-10 while racially aggravated crimes rose by 13 per cent.
The Commons Transport Select Committee’s report on rail safety also raised concerns about the “remarkably low” rate of detecting thefts from passengers - just 7 per cent of such crimes are solved.
MPs said that more needed to be done to help hundreds of runaway children found at railway stations.
In a 17-month period from April 2012 to August 2013, British Transport Police picked up more than 750 runaway children at stations in the capital, according to the report.
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The committee said it had heard “compelling evidence” from the charity Railway Children which warned that “some of the sexual exploitation taking place on concourses is gang-related and quite organisded”.
Louise Ellman, a Labour MP who is the committee’s chairwoman, said: “Vulnerable children and young people who have run away from home or from care are often found in and around railway stations.
“More must be done by British Transport Police to improve their child protection arrangements.”
Commenting on the report Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, said: “While we welcome the overall fall in railway crime, we are concerned about the worrying rise in serious crime.
“We would like to see a higher police profile at stations and on trains which would act both as a deterrent whilst also providing security and reassurance for the travelling public.”