Fatalities at Railway Stations
Discussion
Are there any particular reasons why fatalities at a railway station would not be covered in the media, local or otherwise? Reason for asking - there was a fatality at our local station (West Malling, Kent) last week, involving major disruption to train services, and in the local area, but there has been no mention of it in the local paper, on the local TV news, or on the local news websites. All that the SE Trains website would say was "person hit by train".
I'm not looking for ghoulish reasons, but we travel on the train regularly and there's work going on at the station at the moment - if there's a particular danger at or near the station, it would be good to know what's going on. I'm just a little baffled that nobody seems to be saying anything at all about it?
I'm not looking for ghoulish reasons, but we travel on the train regularly and there's work going on at the station at the moment - if there's a particular danger at or near the station, it would be good to know what's going on. I'm just a little baffled that nobody seems to be saying anything at all about it?
Edited by C8PPO on Monday 29th March 23:33
I think the reason is, and I could be wrong about this, that it's not really publicised to avoid giving other people the idea of doing it.
A large factor in people commiting suicide is having the succesful means to carry out the act easily available at the time they are suicidal. Hence why it is more prevalent among professions such as vets, and why firearms suicides are so common in countries such as america. Obviously here access to firearms is much more restricted. Trains are relatively commonplace in the UK however, and commiting suicide by jumping infront of them is quite common, I think between two and three hundred people a year die in such a fashion.
I think the lack of, or very low key, level of reporting of most railway suicides is in order that the concept doesn't become massively familiar to everyday life. If every suicide was widely reported then there would probably be 400 a year rather than 200, and then there would be media articles about the massive increase, and next year there would potentially be 600.
If you remember the 'Bridgend Suicides', It was frequently mentioned that the high level of media coverage may have added to the number of young people who took their own lives, having had the concept planted and reinforced in their own minds (I am not saying that this is by any means the only factor).
A large factor in people commiting suicide is having the succesful means to carry out the act easily available at the time they are suicidal. Hence why it is more prevalent among professions such as vets, and why firearms suicides are so common in countries such as america. Obviously here access to firearms is much more restricted. Trains are relatively commonplace in the UK however, and commiting suicide by jumping infront of them is quite common, I think between two and three hundred people a year die in such a fashion.
I think the lack of, or very low key, level of reporting of most railway suicides is in order that the concept doesn't become massively familiar to everyday life. If every suicide was widely reported then there would probably be 400 a year rather than 200, and then there would be media articles about the massive increase, and next year there would potentially be 600.
If you remember the 'Bridgend Suicides', It was frequently mentioned that the high level of media coverage may have added to the number of young people who took their own lives, having had the concept planted and reinforced in their own minds (I am not saying that this is by any means the only factor).
Interesting - that reason did cross my mind.
There is a pedestrian rail crossing nearby where (inexplicably, as you can see several hundred metres in each direction) a number of people have been killed over the years. Also, a known local depressive killed herself by jumping off the platform 2-3 years back and that was widely reported.
But your suggestion certainly makes sense - thanks.
There is a pedestrian rail crossing nearby where (inexplicably, as you can see several hundred metres in each direction) a number of people have been killed over the years. Also, a known local depressive killed herself by jumping off the platform 2-3 years back and that was widely reported.
But your suggestion certainly makes sense - thanks.
Sometimes it may also be down to a simple case of the local press not actually knowing about it.
It's not quite on the same level but there have been accidents in the past around here which have made traffic reports yet haven't been in the paper and when I mentioned it to my dad (who takes photos for our local paper), he said that they often only know about something if they are told by a member of the public and then they may not publish a story as a sign of respect.
(I am talking about a small, local paper here btw)
It's not quite on the same level but there have been accidents in the past around here which have made traffic reports yet haven't been in the paper and when I mentioned it to my dad (who takes photos for our local paper), he said that they often only know about something if they are told by a member of the public and then they may not publish a story as a sign of respect.
(I am talking about a small, local paper here btw)
Generally suicides are not publicised so as not to highlight where the best place to 'do the deed' is.
There is a high bridge near me where on average a person a week jumps, despite barriers, CCTV, etc, but incidents rarely make the papers.
On the railways, the phrase 'an incident on the line' tends to be used.
There is a high bridge near me where on average a person a week jumps, despite barriers, CCTV, etc, but incidents rarely make the papers.
On the railways, the phrase 'an incident on the line' tends to be used.
A good few years ago when I worked on the East Coast line a chap jumped off the far end of the station in front of a 100mph 'non stopper' and was sprayed all over the waiting commuters on the platform.
We also used to work at a place called hang mans bridge were you'd find people swinging by their necks from time to time.
Not good,
You also get trains pull into stations with parts of people stuck to the couplings of they are mashed between the train and the platform edge.
We also used to work at a place called hang mans bridge were you'd find people swinging by their necks from time to time.
Not good,
You also get trains pull into stations with parts of people stuck to the couplings of they are mashed between the train and the platform edge.
Edited by Cartard on Tuesday 30th March 17:18
The Eurostar trains quite regulary get delayed by people jumping in front of them, I feel sorry for the drivers as it must be a horrible thing to experience.
Whilst I was working out in Brussels at the Eurostar controls there was one that came in after being delayed by a suicide, apparently they didn't clean the front of the train properly and if you've ever been to Brussels on the Eurostar you'll be aware that you have to walk past the front of the train to get off the platform. Not a pleasant sight I'd imagine!
Whilst I was working out in Brussels at the Eurostar controls there was one that came in after being delayed by a suicide, apparently they didn't clean the front of the train properly and if you've ever been to Brussels on the Eurostar you'll be aware that you have to walk past the front of the train to get off the platform. Not a pleasant sight I'd imagine!
Craigyp79 said:
The Eurostar trains quite regulary get delayed by people jumping in front of them, I feel sorry for the drivers as it must be a horrible thing to experience.
Would you actually see anything at close on 200 mph?Craigyp79 said:
Whilst I was working out in Brussels at the Eurostar controls there was one that came in after being delayed by a suicide, apparently they didn't clean the front of the train properly and if you've ever been to Brussels on the Eurostar you'll be aware that you have to walk past the front of the train to get off the platform. Not a pleasant sight I'd imagine!
thatone1967 said:
Craigyp79 said:
The Eurostar trains quite regulary get delayed by people jumping in front of them, I feel sorry for the drivers as it must be a horrible thing to experience.
Would you actually see anything at close on 200 mph?You would hear the thump as the person exploded all over the front of the train.
Quite a few people jump of the forth road bridge each year and we never get to hear about that.
munroman said:
Generally suicides are not publicised so as not to highlight where the best place to 'do the deed' is.
There is a high bridge near me where on average a person a week jumps, despite barriers, CCTV, etc, but incidents rarely make the papers.
On the railways, the phrase 'an incident on the line' tends to be used.
Delays due to "passenger action"There is a high bridge near me where on average a person a week jumps, despite barriers, CCTV, etc, but incidents rarely make the papers.
On the railways, the phrase 'an incident on the line' tends to be used.
TEKNOPUG said:
munroman said:
Generally suicides are not publicised so as not to highlight where the best place to 'do the deed' is.
There is a high bridge near me where on average a person a week jumps, despite barriers, CCTV, etc, but incidents rarely make the papers.
On the railways, the phrase 'an incident on the line' tends to be used.
Delays due to "passenger action"There is a high bridge near me where on average a person a week jumps, despite barriers, CCTV, etc, but incidents rarely make the papers.
On the railways, the phrase 'an incident on the line' tends to be used.
te service.....Suidicdes also don't deserve any coverage. Unless, that is, they're as stylish as this one:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1042676/Bu...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1042676/Bu...
I know someone who jumped in front of a train a few years ago. it was really sad, he wasn't reported missing for a couple of weeks, and dental records didn't help in identifying him....
It wasn't reported at the time, only when they couldn't identify the body.
Very sad, for him, his family, and the bloke driving the train.
It wasn't reported at the time, only when they couldn't identify the body.
Very sad, for him, his family, and the bloke driving the train.
thatone1967 said:
Craigyp79 said:
The Eurostar trains quite regulary get delayed by people jumping in front of them, I feel sorry for the drivers as it must be a horrible thing to experience.
Would you actually see anything at close on 200 mph?bonsai said:
Suidicdes also don't deserve any coverage. Unless, that is, they're as stylish as this one:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1042676/Bu...
Without trying to make light of the serious issue of suicide...http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1042676/Bu...
Daily Mail said:
Mr Mellin owned the gym and sun tanning centre where his wife had worked as a beautician.
..
.
.
.
bonsai said:
Suidicdes also don't deserve any coverage. Unless, that is, they're as stylish as this one:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1042676/Bu...
10/10 for style... got say poor reporting by the Mail..they showed a car similar to the husbands, but could not even be bothered to get a picture of an Aston cabriolet.....http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1042676/Bu...
munroman said:
Generally suicides are not publicised so as not to highlight where the best place to 'do the deed' is.
There is a high bridge near me where on average a person a week jumps, despite barriers, CCTV, etc, but incidents rarely make the papers.
Not the Erskine Bridge by any chance? I used to know a copper from out that way. One a week was the norm, not the exception There is a high bridge near me where on average a person a week jumps, despite barriers, CCTV, etc, but incidents rarely make the papers.
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