How to prevent commuters from flinging themselves onto the path of oncoming train?

Question

How to prevent commuters from flinging themselves onto the path of oncoming train?

Answer 1

On the London Underground network a lot of stations have 'suicide pits'. These are trenches between the running rails into which a body can fall, thus avoiding an incoming train. However, if somebody is h**l bent on throwing a double 7, they'll do it and you can't stop them.

Answer 2

Think there's no way to stop them if they intend to jump... They can be stopped on the 1st attempt but may still come back and try again...

Answer 3

Errm, maybe the should put barriers or something. Just the stations in the underground tunnel in Singapore. It would be costly to do at revamp to as they have about 40 over stations here and about half of them are above ground.

Answer 4

Suicide is a terrible tragedy all around - to the victim, the family of the victim,  the train crew, the emergency workers, and to bystanders.

The only 'sure thing' that will prevent railroad suicides is to completely enclose the tracks with walls and fences that block all access to the train tracks, even within a train station.  And only permit limited passenger access to the train cars after the trains have fully stopped.

All that takes is a *lot* of money.

Answer 5

you might gather from my name that i am a train driver... here in Australia we have a saying or rule for that matter and that is the "throw" rule Trains Have Right Of Way... we have at most pedestrian crossing's gates that close automatically to prevent people from entering the crossing when trains are on approach... having said that you can not stop people from being a bit stupid when it comes to trains... they think that the trains are like car's and can stop on a fifty cent piece(coin), this just is not the case, A freight train weighing some 3,500 ton's traveling at 110km/h need time to stop..... I my self have hit a car because the car did not heed the sign that said "stop" rail crossing.... also some people are in such a hurry and can not wait the time for a train to pass that they are playing Russian roulette with their lives by running over the crossing when a train is coming and the danger with that is when one goes others think it must be safe and then follow ..... people need to use their heads and remind them self's that you don't get to many chances to have a second dance with a locomotive...

Answer 6

More security - but being involved in trying to prevent suicides, and being a suicide survivor myself [my husband took an overdose] I have come to the conclusion that once a person makes that decision, when the moment is right they will act on it.

And they usually have a plan in place.  So the method is not relevant - it's seen as an opportunity to end pain.

Answer 7

It can't be done.

But I will respectfully disagree with the answer given by Redhatgal.  Methodology is of concern to the train crew.  They see it, and see it over and over long after the incident has occurred, usually when trying to go to sleep and pretty much for the rest of their lives.  It is unpleasant business.

Ask the folks who have to bag up the remains if they would have preferred that the victim had chosen another means of self execution.

Answer 8

As locomotive said ,myself am a train driver people r stupid when it comes 2 trains they don't think @ all. U will never b able 2 stop people from doing it if thats what they have in there mind thats it they wont change there mind whether beening by trains,buses,trucks once they make up there mind that it.So please people out there try & think a bit b4 u do i don't want 2 run u over with my train & think about us that have 2 live with it 4 the rest of our lives!

Answer 9

This is a real concern.

I suggest posting large signs next to the tracks at every station that say, "Get in the train now, and you will be the next million dollar winner!"