27 October 2025 •
Local train operator c2c Railway has reaffirmed its commitment to operating a safe railway, hosting an interactive event with customers and stakeholders at Southend Central station in support of Rail Delivery Group’s (RDG) national anti-sexual harassment campaign.
The Zero-Tolerance campaign, also run in collaboration with British Transport Police, showcases a revolutionary virtual reality (VR) film putting viewers in the position of someone experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment on the railway, helping to raise awareness of the impact of unwanted and predatory behaviour.
The event was held at Southend Central station on Thursday 23 October, with customers and colleagues invited to wear a VR headset and view one of three possible scenarios of sexual harassment. The film empowers people to consider how they could intervene safely and report perpetrators, while the scenarios have been designed to be experienced from the perspective of both victim and bystander.
The event was attended by British Transport Police, c2c colleagues and customers, Cllr Daniel Cowan Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, Southend United Football Club players Jack Bridge, George Wind and Oliver Coker and young people from The Kings Trust.
Research by RDG revealed that 1 in 3 of people who recognised the Zero-Tolerance campaign and later experienced unwanted sexual behaviour said it influenced them to report the incident, with 60% of passengers confirming they now feel more empowered to intervene if they see someone experiencing unwanted sexual behaviour.
At c2c, our teams are dedicated to preventing harm coming to women and girls and we are committed to supporting prosecutions against perpetrators.
c2c is White Ribbon-accredited and was recently the first train operator to confirm membership of the anti-spiking charity, Stamp Out Spiking.
We use every enforcement tool available to safeguard women and girls, including working closely with British Transport Police on regular, proactive operations to prevent people offending on our network.
Kamaldeep Wallis, c2c Safeguarding and Security Manager, said:
“Creating a culture free from sexual harassment isn’t just policy, it’s everyone’s responsibility, every day, in every conversation. Partnerships are key to this and at c2c we are determined to do everything we can to work with those who are part of our railway community, for the safety of every woman and girl.”
Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and CEO at Rail Delivery Group said:
“As an industry we are actively tackling all forms of sexual harassment and are committed to making our passengers feel safe on trains and at stations.
“By showcasing our immersive VR experience at stations nationwide, we’re equipping individuals with the tools to intervene in situations safely, as a bystander, without putting themselves in harm’s way.
“Whether witnessing or experiencing anything that makes you uncomfortable, we urge everyone to report incidents promptly to the British Transport Police via text at 61016.
“Everyone travelling on Britain’s railways has the right to feel safe, and confident to call out these behaviours without fear.”
Rylee Doe, Commercial Manager at Southend United Football Club, which recognises the importance of players as role models in the community, said:
“We’re proud to support initiatives that make our community a safer and more respectful place for everyone.
“The railway is a vital part of daily life for so many of our supporters, and it’s important that every passenger feels safe and confident when travelling. Campaigns like this one play a crucial role in challenging unacceptable behaviour and empowering people to take a stand.
“We’re pleased to lend our support and have our players attend this important event at Southend Central Station.”
Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said:
“I welcome this initiative in both raising awareness of the safety of women and girls in public spaces and on public transport, and in highlighting the paramount importance of partnership and collaboration in protecting women and girls from all types of violence.”
c2c recently reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding by securing full re-accreditation as part of the 2025/26 Safeguarding on Rail Scheme (SRS), scoring 92% in the assessment audit.
The Safeguarding on Rail Scheme (SRS) is a joint initiative awarded by British Transport Police (BTP) and Department for Transport (DfT) on an annual basis to train operating companies to protect vulnerable people on the UK rail network and is a contractual obligation for all operators, with accreditation based on assessments of their safeguarding practices.
- c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
- c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 37.3 million journeys are made on its services every year.
- The operation of all c2c services transferred into public ownership on Sunday 20 July 2025 and is managed by DFTO (DfT Operator Ltd).
- For more information email mediaenquiries@c2crail.net
About Rail Delivery Group industry research
An RDG survey of over 2,000 passengers revealed that:
9 in 10 people believe sexual harassment and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is an important societal issue.
The overwhelming majority (87%) believe that more needs to be done to prevent and address these incidents in society.
85% of people believe the rail industry has an important role in addressing the issue of VAWG.
Over 90% agree that bystanders should play a vital role in supporting victims of abuse or harassment against women and girls.
Over half (56%) of those we surveyed say increasing the number of body-worn cameras and training staff would make them feel safer when travelling.
If they saw unwanted sexual behaviour or harassment on a public transport, over half (62%) said they would ensure the victim is okay, and half (50%) would report the incident to rail staff and/or British Transport Police. Over a third (37%) said they would distract the perpetrator with a question, a way to intervene that has been promoted in recent campaigns by the rail industry.
In an emergency on the railway, customers should always dial 999.
Images
Main image – teams from c2c, Rail Delivery Group, British Transport Police, Southend United Football Club players and young people from The Kings Trust
Secondary image – Southend United Football Club players Jack Bridge, George Wind and Oliver Coker at Southend Central station
Third image – Southend United Football Club players Jack Bridge, George Wind and Oliver Coker trying the VR headsets
Fourth image – c2c customer stops to learn about the campaign
Fifth image – VR headsets being tried at the event
Sixth image – Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council supports the campaign