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Supporting local railway stations

Deaths or serious injuries on the railways can have a huge impact on those involved, so we make sure we support stations affected by an incident.

Supporting train stations following a traumatic incident

Samaritans branches support their local railway stations to help those affected by potentially traumatic incidents. In the hours, days or weeks after an incident Samaritans volunteers can be called upon to attend a station to be there for any staff or passengers affected.

This post-incident support service to railway stations has become more widely available through the development of close relationships with train operating companies as a result of the Network Rail partnership, signed in 2010.

Trauma support training for rail managers

In addition to the support provided locally by branches, Samaritans also delivers training to people managers within the rail industry, either virtually or face to face. Trauma Support Training is designed to equip attendees with the skills to help them when their colleagues may be suffering from trauma after an incident, as well as giving them the skills to talk with them and if needed refer them on to further support. This training has been delivered to over 1,800 rail managers and British Transport Police officers to date and continues to be hugely well received.

Supporting the local community through railway stations

Samaritans volunteers also attend stations to meet with local people, raise awareness of Samaritans’ services and talk to anyone who may need support.

Understanding and preventing rail suicides

As part of our partnership with Network Rail, Samaritans is also working with the rail industry to help prevent rail suicides. This work includes delivery of a suicide prevention course to frontline rail staff. This course has been adapted for the rail industry and provides the skills and confidence to approach someone in need, encourage them to talk, and lead them to a place of safety. The course also teaches some of the listening skills that underpin Samaritans services, which are as relevant in home life as they are at work.

Rail industry suicide prevention programme

Samaritans works with Network Rail and the wider rail industry to reduce suicide on the railways and to support everyone affected by them.

Saving lives on the railways

Many rail employees who have taken our courses have used their skills to save lives, at work or in their local community.

Suicide prevention training on the railway

Since 2010, Samaritans has trained more than 28,000 rail staff with the skills to help someone at risk of suicide on the railway.

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Samaritans is a charity registered in England and Wales (219432) and in Scotland (SC040604) and incorporated in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (757372). Samaritans Ireland is a charity registered in the Republic of Ireland (20033668) and incorporated in the Republic of Ireland as a company limited by guarantee (450409). Samaritans Enterprises is a private limited company (01451175).