Authorities reveals efficient measures to avoid wasting lives and stop railway suicides

Passengers and rail employees are on the coronary heart of recent government-funded analysis printed in the present day (10 September 2025), wanting into the simplest measures to avoid wasting lives and shield households from the devastating influence of railway suicide.

Improved security measures, accountable media reporting and elevated assist for individuals in disaster are among the many most necessary methods aimed to assist the rail trade each stop and reply to traumatic occasions.

Every suicide represents a big and tragic lack of life with far-reaching impacts on households, associates, rail employees and the broader neighborhood and the federal government is dedicated to stopping such tragedies and supporting these affected.

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, mentioned:

Every life misplaced to suicide is a tragedy and this analysis ensures we’re doing every part attainable to scale back the dangers, assist these in want and shield households from unimaginable loss on our railways.

We are dedicated to working with our companions throughout the rail trade, well being providers and charities to avoid wasting lives and as we transfer in the direction of Great British Railways, we’re placing passengers first and making rail journey safer for everybody.

Key findings of the report embrace the effectiveness of bodily interventions to forestall each suicide makes an attempt and unintentional falls, reminiscent of elevated fencing alongside tracks to scale back entry to high-risk areas.

With proof displaying rail suicides and unintentional deaths have vital psychological results on practice drivers, trauma assist coaching was proven as extremely really useful by rail employees, who felt it decreased stress following a distressing occasion.

The report additionally highlights proof to counsel that employees coaching programmes enhance employees confidence in figuring out and intervening in suicide makes an attempt. 

Building on these discoveries, the federal government is now requiring all publicly owned practice operators to supply frontline employees with common suicide prevention coaching – forming a part of the transfer in the direction of Great British Railways, with passenger security remaining at its coronary heart.

The rail trade can also be dedicated to supporting individuals in occasions of want. In partnership with Samaritans and British Transport Police, Network Rail launched the Small Talk Saves Lives marketing campaign – empowering the general public to start out a easy dialog if somebody doesn’t look okay on the railway.

Louise McNally, Suicide and Trespass Prevention Lead, at Network Rail, mentioned:

Lives misplaced on the railway have a ripple impact, with tragedies touching everybody from the household and associates of victims to our colleagues who’ve to deal with the aftermath. That’s why we work collectively as an trade to supply coaching and bodily enhancements to the railway so we are able to reply successfully to individuals in misery.

Our partnership marketing campaign with the Samaritans – Small Talk Saves Lives – encourages the general public to assist us in our efforts by reminding us {that a} easy dialog might be all it takes to interrupt suicidal ideas. We can all play a significant function in saving lives and this analysis will assist our efforts to make the railway safer.

Today’s report additionally coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day, as Samaritans calls on the general public to take motion and present they care in the event that they assume somebody is suicidal.

Dave Brown, Head of Rail Programme at Samaritans, mentioned:

At Samaritans, we welcome analysis into suicide on the rail as we all know firsthand the devastating influence this may have on these working throughout the community. We totally assist the necessity to practice these working within the trade and encourage employees to attend our Managing Suicidal Contacts and Trauma Support coaching. Across the trade, we should proceed to work collectively to make sure fewer individuals die by suicide on the railway.

Ellen O’Donoghue, CEO, James’ Place, mentioned:

At James’ Place, we offer pressing, well timed assist to males in a suicidal disaster and welcome these efforts to forestall suicide on the railways. We work with males whose disaster is motivated by life occasions, reminiscent of relationship breakdowns and monetary issues and assist the implementation of elevated coaching, consciousness and assist for rail employees who would possibly encounter an individual in disaster.

Every dying by suicide is a tragedy and we all know that for every one, round 135 individuals are impacted. It is significant that each measure is taken to forestall suicide throughout our railways and these measures will play an necessary half in saving lives.