Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure the successful rollout of suicide prevention strategies for the rail network during and after the process of nationalisation.

This Government is committed to delivering a railway which is safe and secure for the public.

Reducing the number of deaths by suicide is a priority for the Department for Transport (DfT), with each rail operator currently responsible for delivering a suicide prevention plan, which includes the training of public-facing rail staff in suicide prevention and working with the British Transport Police (BTP) to deliver mitigation measures.

The Government will continue to make suicide prevention a priority for public sector operators, and will work with the BTP, Network Rail, the operators and DfT OLR Holdings Limited (DOHL) to enhance the existing approach to suicide prevention, including improvements to training for all staff working on our railways.

Network Rail has a long-standing relationship with The Samaritans, and funds the ‘Small Talk Saves Lives’ campaign. Since launching in 2017, the campaign has successfully raised awareness within railway stations and other public settings about the need to trust your instincts and start a simple conversation if you think someone might need help.