Rail staff consider platform announcement of deaths

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ABC: The World Today --> Rail staff consider platform announcement of deaths

ELEANOR HALL: Now to moves to break the silence on the large number of suicides that occur on Australian railway lines each year.

The rail industry is exploring announcing deaths on tracks at train stations as it launches a new foundation, called Tracksafe, to reduce rail-related fatalities.

The industry says such incidents deeply traumatise rail workers.

And it says commuters shouldn't be left in the dark when a train is delayed because someone has died.

Lexi Metherell has our report.

LEXI METHERELL: Rail commuters are often left in the dark about why their train is delayed.

And sometimes there's a very sad reason.

BRYAN NYE: I think we've got to be a little bit more up front about it.

LEXI METHERELL: A foundation to be launched today, Tracksafe, says 150 people end their own lives on train tracks each year.

It says another 100 attempt suicide.

The chief executive of the Australasian Railway Association, Bryan Nye, says the issue is rarely discussed for fear of triggering more deaths.

BRYAN NYE: It's been a kind of problem that people don't want to talk about, and we're saying well that's no longer an option, we must do something about it.

LEXI METHERELL: The Tracksafe initiative is backed by 11 rail companies and has four goals.

It wants to improve level crossing safety; reduce trespass on tracks; reduce suicides and boost support for employees involved in traumatic incidents.

Brian Nye.

BRYAN NYE: It's a trauma that stays with them for the rest of their life. They can apply the emergency breaks but it takes a lot to stop a train. So it's a horrible experience

LEXI METHERELL: The national secretary of the Rail, Tram & Bus Union, Bob Nanva, says rail deaths have huge ripple effects.

BOB NANVA: Many of our members have great difficulty returning to work after these tragedies. They suffer from post traumatic stress. Quite often they're left unable to return to work and there are huge issue of rehabilitation for many of these members when these things take place.

So there are a lot of hidden victims in this and many of them are left to pick up the pieces on their own.

LEXI METHERELL: Bob Nanva says improved fencing and CCTV cameras are not working to prevent people dying on railways.

BOB NANVA: What we really need are the experts in the field to work with the rail industry experts to come up with tangible, long-term solutions to the problem.

LEXI METHERELL: And that's what Tracksafe is hoping to do.

As part of its work it's commissioned Lifeline to help it understand rail suicide and establish prevention measures.

Alan Woodward is the Lifeline Foundation for Suicide Prevention's executive director.

ALAN WOODWARD: Lifeline Foundation is working with academics and experts here in Australia and also looking at the international evidence around what works to formulate some proposals for that program.

LEXI METHERELL: On some overseas train networks, announcements are made when someone has died on the tracks.

The Railway Association's Bryan Nye says that's worth considering in Australia.

BRYAN NYE: Sometimes people blame the train company; the train's delayed and they don't know why it's delayed and they think it's broken down or it's some fault of the train company. If people are a little bit more aware of it, it's a part of their education program.

LEXI METHERELL: The rail union's Bob Nanva agrees.

BOB NANVA: These delays can often take hours because you have police involvement, coroner involvement, critical incident teams looking into these matters. There needs to be a better way of communicating with the public, letting them know that an issue has taken place, this is why and this is what we're doing to try and address the problem.

LEXI METHERELL: But announcing deaths is likely to be greeted warily by suicide prevention organisations.

A spokeswoman for Mindframe, which advises on media coverage of suicide, says reporting individual deaths and specific locations could undermine suicide prevention measures.

The Lifeline Foundation's Alan Woodward says it's exploring the idea but the evidence must be assessed.

ELEANOR HALL: Lexi Metherell reporting.

And if you or someone you know needs help, Lifeline counsellors are available 24 hours a day, on 13 11 14.