A CAMPAIGN to cut the number of people committing suicide on the railways in North Yorkshire is working, according to new figures.

In January last year the Samaritans teamed up with Network Rail to try and reduce the suicide rate on the railway by 20 per cent over a five year period and they say their work is already having an impact.

Statistics released by the Samaritans show in 2010/11 there were 29 deaths in the North Eastern region which covers York, Selby, Ryedale and East Yorkshire compared with 34 the year before that – a drop of five and a 15 per cent change.

In England overall, the number of deaths fell from 207 in 2009/10 to 185 in 2010/11, an 11 per cent fall and the partnership put this down in part to a programme of work carried out between the two organisations.

These include: Samaritans posters with helpline contact details at key stations around the country; training for Network Rail and train staff in how to identify potentially suicidal people and intervene in a potential suicide, and on dealing with the impact of suicide on railways stations and developing a suicide response service with Samaritans branches to ensure support is available in the aftermath of a suicide.

Samaritans’ chief executive Catherine Johnstone said: “Although we have been working with rail companies for many years, this is the first time the industry has taken action on this scale to reduce suicides on the railways.”

Anyone who want to contact Samaritans on their 24-hour helpline should call 08457 909090.