Great Western Coffee Shop

From my facebook feed


1. Person dies after being hit by train at Oxford Circus Tube station - https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/oxford-circus-tube-station-person-killed-police-a4382786.html

2. All services cancelled between Preston and Lancaster as person hit by train - https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/services-cancelled-between-preston-lancaster-17894032

3. Delays after person hit by train at Radley - https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18291745.delays-person-hit-train-radley/

And one prevented - Police statement on incident at Bedworth Train Station - https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/police-statement-incident-bedworth-train-17889146 , but I do then look at this next one just a few miles up the road

4. A spokesman for the British Transport Police said: "Officers were called to Tile Hill station shortly before 4.38pm yesterday (09/03) following reports of a casualty on the tracks.  "Paramedics also attended however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner." - https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/person-dies-after-being-hit-17896207

5. "Monday was a bad day for sad news as there was also a fatality between Huddersfield and Stalybridge."

How can this toll be reduced ... I have no full answer.   But we can all do our little bit by looking out for others during our journeys, and offering a small talk - a friendly word or two - if we see someone acting that bit odd.  Not just my thoughts - it's what the Samaritans tell us to do to.

Just to add to the list - trains were cautioned through platforms 2 and 3 at Slough for a time in the morning peak yesterday after platform staff were concerned for the welfare of a person on the station.

I suspect that this increase in fatalities might be indirectly due to the coronavirus.
A significant minority of people who are already depressed and at risk, could be "pushed over the edge" by worries that they or their relatives are infected, or liable to become infected.
Others might decide to "end it all" because they fear serious financial loss due to the fall in stock prices, or failure of their business due to the virus. ISTR an increase in suicides in the last financial crash.
Yet others may be suffering from significant underlying health problems, and might fear lack of treatment or shortage of medication as hospitals fill up with coronavirus victims.

I appreciate that these deaths are not officially confirmed as suicides, but experience suggests that it is likely.

Statistcs are interesting things

Statistically, you're into the 99% percential to say "I appreciate that these deaths are not officially confirmed as suicides, but experience suggests that it is likely" that it is, at least in the majority of those cases.

But seeing the annual statistics, there will be odd days when it's significantly higher and Monday may hevs been one. Or it may prove not to have been. You have moved from statistical "proof" to what at this point is speculation - and you know this because you start "I suspect that ..." - perhaps better in the Rumour Mill (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/b39) for the present?

I'm not going to encourage speculation; I'm encouraging members to keep their eyes open, to have a word if they see someone they're worried about, and to have a chat with someone like the Samaritains or whoever else they feel confortable with if they're concerned for themselves. The Samaritains are on 116 123 and it's a free call.

I don't know if the "annual statistics" indicate how many deaths were suicides or accidents to people taking risks and behaving foolishly.

Local news websites being what they are nowadays - poorly staffed and relying a lot on official  announcements from public services - members of the public seldom get to learn the facts behind the deaths.

They are based on inquest verdicts / death certificates.  It's my understanding too that where there's a significant element of doubt, it is not regarded as a suicide.  I have not got numbers to hand (travelling today) but pretty sure of the statistical comments posted earlier which are based on previous reading of the detail of this most important topic.

I've heard that suicides do increase at this time of year. People have made it through the winter, then look outside and it's still grey, dull, wet... which is all the harder to take when they were looking forward to spring.

There's not much difference throughout the year according to stats from the Office Of National Statistics, viewable in the following link, which covered 1981 to 2015.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/006905suicidesbymonthofoccurrence1981to2015

The monthly totals over that time are:

JAN   15,800
FEB   13,922
MAR   15,808
APR   15,426
MAY   15,570
JUN   15,157
JUL   15,462
AUG   15,033
SEP   14,831
OCT   14,983
NOV   14,774
DEC   14,466

Or split into seasons (DEC-FEB / MAR-MAY / JUN-AUG / SEP-NOV)

SPRING   46,804
SUMMER   45,652
AUTUMN   44,588
WINTER   44,188

So, there is a rise in Spring, but not a particularly significant one.  Most surprising to me is that Winter has the lowest total number.

Another person struck by train today. (https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/18305310.disruption-person-hit-train-reading-london-paddington/)

(Saturday 14th).

Interestingly this was announced on the passenger information screen of a Southern service between Southampton and Fareham.

Another person hit by train
Journeycheck  https://www.journeycheck.com/greatwesternrailway/
Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading
Due to a person hit by a train between London Paddington and Reading all lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 13:15 29/08.

Seems to be 1A76 (Penzance to Paddington) at Slough.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L97066/2020-08-29/detailed

Thoughts with all those involved

It wasn’t that train, although that train was caught up in the resulting disruption.  It was one heading the other way.

My thanks II, and apologies for jumping on the wrong train.
Didn't want to 'like' your reply as it seemed inappropriate