Second Fatality at Seven Kings in a week

[Muzer]

With regarded to fences, they are in response to everyone that has been saying 'something must be done'. Therefore the TOCs and NR have done 'something'. Whether they are effective or not, well I'm told the Samaritans say they are, but I guess we don't know how many decide not to take their life on seeing these fences.

It shouldn't be hard to find out - if there are any real hotspots that get enough suicides or attempts to provide a steady flow of statistics, you may look at the stats of those (perhaps also including surrounding stations and track in case they're just going somewhere else to do it), and check if the figure has gone down significantly since the fences were fitted. I'd expect the figures are available to the TOCs, and since some of them are still fitting fences, it probably means it works.

 

[Pumbaa]

Ah, then they really do need to be looked at for Wimbledon as it is a big hotspot - also where i unfortunately experienced by first one under.

Fences are going in, all signed off and ready to go. They're going in at a few other places too, Earlsfield among them.
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Wimbledon is an eight car platform but twice I have had to terminate on the up fast with a twelve car set in the middle of the morning peak, it took long enough to do this using the front eight coaches as it was, barriers on the platform would've caused even more delay to my train and all the other piling up behind me on the fast line.

Good job its a staffed station then I assume its been addressed and a process will be put in place for this eventuality. Then again...

 

[306024]

As Bald Rick says, this is subject to law of small numbers at present as the fences are comparatively new, but yes as time goes by the statistical evidence becomes stronger.

On the GEML Brentwood, Harold Wood, Chadwell Heath, Goodmayes, Seven Kings, Manor Park, Forest Gate and Maryland have all had fences erected in the past couple of months. None of these stations have regular platform staff, although that may well change under Crossrail. Once the safety case certification is complete and the emergency gates are closed, we will be able to start measure the figures.

 

[455driver]

Evidence from the first fences @ Purley / Purley Oaks has shown a notable reduction in suicides at these places. It is subject to the law of small numbers, but the signs are good.

What has happened to the numbers at nearby stations though?
If its too difficult at one station some will simply move onto the next station along!

 

[tsr]

What has happened to the numbers at nearby stations though?
If its too difficult at one station some will simply move onto the next station along!

South Croydon and to some extent East Croydon can attract relatively high numbers of suicidal people, but then again they do appear to have done so before the installation of the barriers elsewhere.

I believe there are some issues at South Croydon with installing barriers in all required locations due to platform width (or something similar to do with dimensions), but I'm not sure.

As for East Croydon, non-stop services can (if you include freight/NR workings) pass through any given platform, and all of those are also used for passenger calls at a high frequency, so it would be impossible to fit gates, given this current setup.

 

[DarloRich]

Anybody who is properly suicidal won't be put off by fences and such like and nice cards from the Samaritans.

When you're truly suicidal it's usually just a matter of time.

You would be surprised - according to research there is enough evidence to suggest that erecting any form of barrier is enough to turn away people considering suicide at a particular.

Interestingly, the research suggested that the barrier doesn't have to be physical. For instance even painting a wide hatched area on the platform ( like Northallerton) is enough to reduce the chances of suicides.

It seems silly but it is something to do with creating an obstacle that the person has not contended with and this is enough to break the chain of thought. Apparently many attempts are highly organised (so far as paying for parking at the station!) and this barrier is something that person has not factored in.

Clearly, the determined individual will overcome these obstacles but apparently enough are turned away to make it worthwhile.

The Samaritans ( and others ) also do a fantastic job is providing guidance and support to people in crisis. Anything that gets people to seek help and talk about their issues and problems must be a good thing

 

[Bald Rick]

What has happened to the numbers at nearby stations though?
If its too difficult at one station some will simply move onto the next station along!

Well, the law of small numbers applies here too. Nevertheless, as DarloRich says, the evidence suggests that for some individuals, the fence (or other obstacle) will be enough to put them off.

The Maryland - Brentwood fencing will be another good test; in my time at Anglia barely a month went by without a suicide somewhere on this stretch. Notwithstanding the title of this thread, it does seem to have reduced recently.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Quite a lot of people go to the place they wish to commit suicide in order to contemplate their life and the reasoning for it. Interventions, such as Samaritans, may make the difference between them walking out the station alive or being carried out in bits in a body bag.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

These things are closely monitored - unfortunately there is a correlation between access at stations and "fast trains" - e.g Harrow and Wealdstone was always a key spot before fencing and more staffing. Thames Valley suburban stations also had a high number. However , better awareness and pro-active CCTV monitering and some staffing intiatives seem to be making a dent in the number of instances or attempted instances _ I can think of some local examples where the staff have spotted some likely would be cases and quick action has been taken. In passing - there seem to be a very low number in Wales and Scotland.