Communicating suicides on the railway

[whole diary]

[Southernman]

SWT^▸ (South West Trains) Twitter feed referred an enquirer to this piece of research by Transport Focus:-

http://www.transportfocus.org.uk/research/publications/communicating-suicides-on-the-railway

recommending a change in terminology to 'emergency services dealing with an incident'.

Seems very sensible and more sensitive to me although I am sure the reader will still understand what has happened. However on Journey Check the incident in question was still referred to as 'Due to a person hit by a train'.

[Oxman]

I always found that honesty was the best policy. Unspecific talk about an "incident" says nothing to a passenger.

Tell them that somebody has been hit by a train, and there is an immediate understanding of what is going on (in most cases).

[LiskeardRich]

Emergency services dealing with an incident may create worry for families knowing their relative was on a train in that area... Has a train crashed etc.
A person hit by a train not so much worry for people knowing relatives are on a train in that area.
Less sensitive yes, less likely to worry as many people.

[ChrisB]

And can help in determining how long a disruption might last, as long as you can identify the time it occurred. For example, most suicides are cleared in roughly a couple pf hours unless BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) suspect foul play/criminality.

Just being told of an incident tells you nothing....