NSW most dangerous train stations, City of Sydney, Blacktown, Parramatta, Penrith listed as hotspots
Assaults, robberies and a litany of drug offences are some of the shocking cases police have investigated at NSW’s most dangerous train stations. See where your LGA ranks.
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Shocking new crime data has lifted the lid on the NSW communities with the most dangerous train stations, with some recording more than 100 serious offences in just one year.
Assaults, robbery, sexual assaults and drug offences were among the 4561 serious offences carried out at train stations across the state in 2023 according to latest data published by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics (BOCSAR).
For daily commuters, NSW hotspot included City of Sydney, Campbelltown, Blacktown, Parramatta, Blacktown and Wollongong all which have seen high rates of offences.
Train stations have seen an uptick of nearly 22 per cent in assault's and 30 per cent in drug offence, with other categories such as sexual assault also rising.
Police have launched multiple operations to tackle anti-social behaviour across Sydney’s public transport network with Commander of Police Transport Command Northwest Sector, Superintendent Andrew Evans, saying NSW station need to be cleaned up.
“Our priority is making the people feel safe on public transport, and by focusing our resources on these areas, we can effectively disrupt and prevent crime and anti-social behaviour,” Supt Evans said.
Below is a breakdown of the most dangerous train stations in NSW in 2023 using the most recent data from BOCSAR.
CITY OF SYDNEY
City of Sydney train stations topped the majority of serious crime categories within NSW, with a staggering 1124 counts of assault in 2023, 538 counts of drug offences, 33 counts of sexual assault and nine counts of robbery.
Overall, City of Sydney has seen consistent numbers across the board since 2022 expect for drug offences which alarmingly, has seen a 58.7 per cent rise in drug related offences since last year.
BLACKTOWN
One of Sydney's most infamous spots for youth crime, with 180 serious incidents recorded last year,is also one of the most prevalent areas when it comes to train station violence.
Blacktown saw the second most cases of assault within its train stations in NSW, with 125 incidents reported in 2023, an increase of 15 compared to 2022.
It also ranked second in drug offences at 390 which was a 42 per cent increase compared to 2022. It topped NSW in robberies with 10 and also registered 14 sexual assault cases, the second largest in NSW. Blacktown precinct has seen vicious forms of assault such as an incident that took place at Mt Druitt station on February 29,2024, where police allege two males assaulted a policewoman when they pushed her to the ground and struck her head.
PARRAMATTA
Parramatta ranks in the top five in nearly all offences at train stations, peaking at its highest with 77 assaults which ranks third in NSW. According to BOCSAR stats, Parramatta stations rank fourth in drug related offences with 294, fourth in sexual assaults at 11 and fifth in robberies with six in 2023.
Robberies are not uncommon such as an incident that happened on November 18, 2023, in which police were called to Parramatta Railway Station following reports a person had been robbed. Officers arrived and were told a 28-year-old man had personal property stolen and was allegedly threatened.
PENRITH
Penrith has also shown to have some of NSW most dangerous stations. With it ranking fourth in assaults with 56 it has seen dangerous crimes such as November 16, 2023, were police arrested a man for carrying a knife on a carriage at Penrith Railway Station.
The man was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged with carry knife visible in public place-cause fear for safety and hinder/resist law enforcement officer in execution of duty. Other crime stats show that Penrith stations rate fourth in robbery with five cases, seventh in drug offences with 183 and sixth in the state for sexual assaults with nine.
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN
While Canterbury-Bankstown shows lower level of crime within its train stations compared to other Western Sydney regions, it still shows a high prevalence towards assault cases with 48 cases which ranks seventh in NSW.
Ranking eighth in drug offences with 142 it has seen a 75 per cent rise since 2022 however, it ranks 22 in sexual assaults with two and sits 16th in NSW for robberies with one. However, serious crimes still take place in the council stations, such as February 15, 2024, where 39-year-old women was stabbed in her stomach at Padstow station.
CUMBERLAND
Cumberland ranks seventh in NSW for assaults within a train station at 67, which is a nearly a 49 per cent rise compared 2022. It also saw 49 drug offences, ranked fifth in robberies with five and ranked seventh in sexual assault with seven cases. On December 21, 2023, two teenage boys face court over an alleged assault and robbery at Auburn police station. The teen allegedly assaulted and stole the phone of a 22-year-old.
CENTRAL COAST
According to BOCSAR, Central Coast also has some of the most dangerous train stations in NSW with it ranking third in sexual assaults at 13. It also ranks within the top ten in assault cases, peaking at 48, ranking 13th in drug offences with 73 and ranking eighth in robberies with three.
NEWCASTLE
With 39 assault Casses in 2023, Newcastle poses as one of the most violent train stations in NSW and it was also home to 44 drug offence.
Stats also showed it was susceptible to robberies with it ranking eighth in NSW at around three cases.
However, sexual assault was not prevalent with just one case.
SUTHERLAND SHIRE
Shire train stations statistically are one of the most dangerous in NSW and have become even more prone to violence with a big rise in assault cases in 2023 of almost 81 per cent, topping out at 38 incidents. It was also one of the leaders in drug offences in NSW as it ranked fifth overall sitting at 205 incidents, which was one less than 2022. It also ranks third in robberies with seven in 2023 and tied nine for sexual assaults with five.
WOLLONGONG
Wollongong train stations have shown some of the highest levels of drug offences ranking third in NSW with 326, which is a 103 per cent uptick from 2022. Other high levels of criminal offences include 38 assault cases and three robbery incidents. It also ranks high in sexual assault with four cases.
BLUE MOUNTAINS
While Blue Mountains rates highly in assault cases with 33 incidents, 12th in the state, it ranks fairly low on other figures. Stats show one case of robbery, 13 incidents of drug offences and two sexual assault cases.
CANADA BAY
The Bay area also has some of the most dangerous station in NSW and has risen across multiple categories when it comes to criminal activity. dozens of assault cases in 2023 saw a rise from 14 in 2022 to 32 in 2023, with three sexual assault cases to go along with it. Drug offence also seemed prominent with 29, however had no cases of robberies.
LIVERPOOL
With 30 assault cases, Liverpool station ranks high statistically on NSW most dangerous train stations as it also sees an extremely high amount of drug offences, ranking eighth in the state with 162 cases. Liverpool also ranked high for sexual assault – with five cases – as well as three reported robberies.
HORNSBY
Hornsby has one of the highest cases in NSW for sexual assault as it is tied eighth with seven incidents reported. Its train stations also recorded 25 assaults and two roberries. In 2023, Hornsby saw 67 drug-related incidents.
INNER WEST
According to BOCSAR, the inner west is also home to some of the most dangerous train stations with a high rate of assaults which topped at 20 in 2023. The councils stations also had some of the highest rates of sexual assault with five and drug offence levels of 42. However, it had no cases robberies at their stations.
MAITLAND
Maitland finds it’s self on NSW most dangerous train list due to its high rate of assaults, which topped out at 18 in 2023. It also saw two reported robberies, three cases of sexual assault and a total of 16 drug offences.
FAIRFIELD
Fairfield ranks as one of the most dangerous train stations due to its high volume of drug offence which saw the station have 97 in 2023 which was an increase from 2022. It was also one of the highest when it comes to sexual assault which was also an increase to the previous year's two. However, it only recorded 18 assaults and only two robberies.
GEORGES RIVER
Georges Rivers LGA train stations has seen an increase in drug offence in 2023 with 72 in 2023 compared to 61 in 2022. It also saw 18 assaults with zero robberies. In April 2023 Police had been told a man allegedly committed a sexual act in front of the student before he left the train at Hurstville Railway Station. As well, in 2018 a middle-aged man was stabbed to death outside a Sydney train station in a “random” attack.
BAYSIDE
Meanwhile, Bayside is also considered one of the most dangerous railways in NSW with 17 assaults in 2023 and also has one of the highest rates for drug offence in the state with 899. Sexual assaults are also prevalent compared to other regions with five cases as well as one robbery in 2021.
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