THE CITY’S branch of the Samaritans has welcomed a Network Rail study into ‘suicide hotspots’ to prevent deaths on the railway.

The rail firm has hired a team of academics to identify areas with a high risk of suicide to explore strengthening preventive measures at stations.

The Oxford branch of the national Samaritans charity welcomed the study and called for better lighting and other preventive measures at the county’s stations.

The branch’s outreach officer Matt Williams, who said his team of volunteers had a strong relationship with staff at Oxford and Didcot Parkway stations, was pleased with the rail firm’s investigation.

Mr Williams said: “We would welcome anything that might reduce the number of suicides in the county whether it might be increased lighting, or more announcements on the platform.

“I think work to identify the problem areas is important as long as they are not made public.

“Network Rail are doing some great work and this is another step in the right direction which we would very much support.”

There have been six reported suicides at train stations or on train lines in the past twelve months, including three at or near Didcot Parkway.

In December last year 51-year-old Deborah Yalcin fled the John Radcliffe Hospital and ran in front of an oncoming freight train.

Two suicides, one in Banbury and one at Bicester North, were reported in August this year and in June a 26-year-old man was hit by a train at Didcot Parkway causing delays of more than two hours and there was another incident at Cholsey in December last year.

Mr Williams said cross-hatching at the end of platforms, better lighting and announcements at high-risk areas could prevent suicides on the railways.

He added: “Aside from our 24-hour confidential call service we have a number of volunteers who offer support to rail staff, passengers and those who witness death on the railway.

“This support is vital and any measures that could make the railways safer are very much welcome.”

The number of suicides or attempted suicides on the railway network dropped for the first time in three years last year to 252.

Each incidents causes around 2,000 minutes delay to journeys and it take train drivers on average 29 days to get back to work.

Network Rail’s Suicide Prevention Programme manager Ian Stevens told The Sunday Telegraph a team of anthropologists will work to find out what it is about “cluster” locations that attract suicide attempts.

He said data could be used to produce a “smart map” of areas and look to increase police patrols or fencing at sensitive locations across the network.

It is understood the team will study the communities around 32 locations as part of the study.

The Samaritans call service can be reached on 01865 722122.