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Wednesday 10 Sep 2025

Network Rail Wales & Borders and Samaritans mark 15 year of partnership with 5.6% rise in life-saving interventions

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

This World Suicide Prevention Day, we're urging everyone to help save lives by spotting signs of distress near the railway and knowing how to act safely.

The call comes as Network Rail marks the 15^th anniversary of its partnership with Samaritans, which has transformed how the rail industry has dealt with vulnerable people around the rail network.  Over the past year, the number of life-saving interventions* on the Wales and Borders rail network rose by 5.6%, highlighting the continued impact of this collaboration.

Across Network Rail Wales and Borders, we now have more than 300 trained mental health first aiders - a vital part of how we educate, help and support people every day. To date, across the whole of Britain's rail network, more than 31,000 rail employees and British Transport Police officers have been trained in suicide prevention techniques through the Samaritans’ ‘Managing Suicidal Contacts’ course.

The partnership provides specialist training for rail staff and works to raise public awareness about suicide prevention through national campaigns, research and guidelines that promote responsible reporting of suicide in the media**. It also teaches people to recognise the signs that someone may need help and equips them with safe ways to intervene – ranging from simply talking to the person to contacting professional support services.

Louise McNally, Network Rail’s suicide prevention lead, said: “The number of life-saving interventions on the railway has doubled since the partnership first began in 2010, a powerful demonstration of the impact of our partnership with Samaritans across the rail network. Don’s story is a reminder that the railway is not just a place of work or travel, but also a community where small acts of compassion can truly save lives.

“Our Rail Suicide Prevention Programme helps the entire industry to respond effectively to people in distress, while also providing invaluable support to staff involved in these difficult incidents.”

Dave Brown, Head of rail programme at Samaritans, commented: “Since 2010, Network Rail and Samaritans have been working together to ensure that fewer people die by suicide on the rail. As demonstrated in Don’s story, we know that 67% of people in the UK would appreciate someone checking on them, offering words of support, if they were struggling to cope.

 “As part of our partnership we equip both rail staff and the public with the confidence to approach someone they may think is in distress. By doing this, they could save a life.”