Dutch railway personnel reported being the victim of aggressive behaviour by passengers over 8,100 times last year, a rise of almost 16% on 2011.

Website nu.nl says figures indicate the total this year will be even higher. Most of the incidents involve verbal abuse or threatening behaviour but NS staff have been injured 47 times in disputes with passengers so far in 2013.

The main cause of aggression is people travelling without a ticket.

The NS will launch a new campaign to try to reduce aggression against staff in March 2014. In addition, people attached to NS’s service and security teams will have new uniforms ‘which give greater authority and are better suited to the security job’, nu.nl said.

The FNV affiliated railway union wants better ticket checks at station entrances and says conductors should work in groups rather than alone on trains.