The incident took place at around 1.30 pm on Saturday, 13 December on board an Arriva Cross Country train as it travelled between Sheffield and Leeds.
The man was reportedly acting strange and doing martial arts moves on Sheffield station before he boarded the train to Leeds. Once on the service he began to verbally threaten a number of passengers with violence.
The train was met at Leeds by BTP officers, and a 27-year-old man from Sheffield was arrested in connection with the incident. He has been released on police bail until 8 January 2015.
PC Gary Reader, investigating for BTP said: “We would like to here from anyone who may have been travelling on the service and witnessed the man’s actions. I would particularly like to trace a couple who we believe may have also been threatened but left the service at Leeds before officers could get their details. This was completely unacceptable behaviour which left a number of passengers fearing for their safetyâ€
Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or via text on 61016, quoting background reference PSUB/B6 of 19/12/2014. Information can also be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.