Petition launched after fatal attack on rail worker Jorge Ortega at Ilford station garners thousands of signatures
The head of the Elizabeth line has called on the Government to introduce stronger protections for railway workers following the shocking fatal attack on one of his staff at Ilford station in east London late last year.
Mike Bagshaw, managing director of MTR Elizabeth line, publicly backed a petition demanding the Government review and bolster safeguards for frontline transport workers. The petition was sparked by the death of Jorge Ortega, a 61-year-old grandfather and long-serving employee, who was violently assaulted on 4 December 2023 while working as a customer experience assistant. He suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital two days later.
In a post shared across social media platforms, Mr Bagshaw said: “The escalation in abuse of frontline staff is a worrying trend and more needs to be done to protect railway workers against violent crime. We have all seen the challenges our colleagues face and by supporting this petition we can make a real difference.”
The petition, which was launched by MTR Elizabeth line’s deputy director Clare McClane, highlights what she describes as a “desperate need for a safer working environment” for those working in Britain’s railways. It has already received more than 8,000 signatures, and if it surpasses the 10,000 mark, the Government will be obliged to provide an official response. Should it reach 100,000 signatures, the matter could be debated in Parliament.
Data cited in the petition reveals a deeply concerning trend: assaults on rail staff have nearly doubled in the last three years, rising from 1,681 in 2020 to 3,330 in the past year. The surge in violence underscores the growing risks faced by workers on the UK’s rail network, especially on lines such as the Elizabeth line, which is the country’s busiest.
The incident involving Mr Ortega has served as a rallying point for rail staff and union members across the country, who argue that not enough is being done to deter attacks or properly punish offenders. In one particularly egregious case cited by Transport for London (TfL) board members, a man who repeatedly punched a TfL employee at Bank station last July was ordered to pay just £300 in compensation after admitting common assault.
On average, TfL staff report around 100 physical assaults every month. In response, TfL rolled out body-worn cameras to all frontline staff earlier this year, a move officials say is already helping to de-escalate confrontations and support prosecutions.
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Between October and December 2023 alone, nearly 1,000 incidents of violence or aggression towards staff were recorded across the TfL network – with two-thirds of these taking place on the Tube. Alarmingly, around 40 per cent of incidents stemmed from fare disputes, while roughly one in eight involved an element of hate, with most of those being racially motivated.
Jorge Ortega was remembered by colleagues and officials as a devoted family man and a respected presence on the railway for more than two decades. TfL paid tribute to him as “kind, clever, considerate and an inspiring role model to many.” A memorial service held in his honour was attended by senior figures including TfL’s chief operating officer Claire Mann and commissioner Andy Lord.
Mr Lord said: “The absolutely horrific killing of Jorge Ortega continues to have a profound impact on all of us across TfL. We need to have zero tolerance of this. We are working with the British Transport Police and the Met Police to make sure we prosecute anyone who does anything that threatens, abuses or physically harms our colleagues.”
Ayodele Jamgbadi, 28, of Kingston Road, Ilford has been charged with Mr Ortega’s murder and affray. He is due to stand trial on 21 July, according to British Transport Police.
The growing support for the petition signals public recognition of the need to treat staff protection as a national priority—before more lives are tragically lost.
