The suspect in the UK train stabbing spree at the weekend may have been involved in three earlier knife incidents including one in which a 14-year-old was stabbed, police said on Monday.

Anthony Williams, 32, has been charged with offences including 11 counts of attempted murder – 10 on a London-bound train on Saturday evening and one at a station in east London in the early hours of the same day.

Cambridgeshire Police in eastern England said British Transport Police were leading the overall investigation into the train rampage, but that it would also include "three incidents" that took place in the town of Peterborough on Friday and Saturday.

Williams appeared in court on Monday and was remanded in custody.

Meanwhile, the critically wounded train worker was hailed on Monday as a hero for stepping in to protect passengers.

"He went in to do his job and he left work a hero. And there are people who are alive today because of his actions and his bravery," said Transport Minister Heidi Alexander.

Alexander also praised the train's driver, whose quick thinking ensured it was able to make an unscheduled emergency stop at Huntingdon in eastern England that allowed passengers to escape the train.

Scunthorpe United football club, meanwhile, named its defender Jonathan Gjoshe as one of the victims, adding that he was receiving inpatient treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. (AFP)