Great Western Coffee Shop

'tis the Christmas season ... and still this oft-repeating story goes on ...


... Highbridge the other day, somewhere around Corsham / Box today.  It would be a miracle if they were the last of the year.  And how can we work for the miracle of a signifiant drop in the numbers next year?

If you know someone who needs a hand, a meal, a friendly word over Christmas ... think of them, remember them and give them than hand, that meal, that friendly word.  And if you would like such a gesture, please ask; there are people wanting to help you

Edit to add ... our thread at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=6526.0 goes further into "person hit by train" and provides links to resources and contacts that can help.  You are NOT alone.

Sad to read.

I was talking to a member of BTP at Weston yesterday morning, she said that there was always a spike in this tragedies in the build up to Christmas - due to people being depressed about Christmas, mid-late January - when credit card bills from the previous month arrive, and the build up to school summer holidays - when it sinks in parents won't see their kids

All very sad, but seemingly happening more and more.

I was due to get on the 07:50 from Weston to Paddington yesterday (the train involved) a colleague of mine was on the train already and they remarked how professional the on train staff were dealing with the passengers, looking after them, checking they were all ok and keeping them as updated about train movements as possible

Of course thoughts go out to all those affected, be that relatives of the deceased or the drivers of the services

It’s actually stayed reasonably static in terms of numbers per year over the last decade and more:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/305113/railway-suicide-fatalities-in-great-britain-uk/

That pretty much mirrors the trends for suicide numbers for all methods.  Obviously every one is a sad and traumatic event for the individual, friends and family as well as the rail staff and members of the public involved.

Can't view the link it is asking me to sign up to view the stats

That’s a bit odd as it showed up yesterday when I did a Google search!

the link works, but the figures are masked by a request to sign up.

Yes, that’s why it’s odd as I could see them yesterday.

FTR the number has been up and down from one year to the next but has remained on average quite similar for the last decade.