Passenger rail fatalities have reached the highest level in 10 years and suicides on the network are dramatically and steadily rising, according to official statistics.
There were 17 passenger fatalities in 2018-19, almost double the nine recorded in 2017-18; 13 of the fatalities occurred on the mainline and four on London Underground.
Separately, the number of suicides or suspected suicides increased to 302 last year, up by more than 20% from 245 in 2008-2009.
Under the official figures, travellers who trespass or who commit, or attempt to commit, suicide are classified as members of the public, not passengers.There were 329 public fatalities in 2018-19, of which 27 were non-suicide fatalities.
Train 'accidents' on the network also saw a steep increase. There were 517 train accidents in 2018-19, an increase of 17.5% compared to 2017-18.
Of these, 26 were recorded as being accidents with 'the greatest risk of resulting in physical injury' - known as Potentially Higher Risk Train Accident (PHRTA).
Of the 26 PHRTAs on the mainline, 12 involved at least one passenger train:
- 8 collisions with vehicles at level crossings
- 2 collisions between trains
- 1 derailment
- 1 striking buffer stops
The number of major passenger injuries on the mainline has increased significantly over the last 10 years, rising to 377 major injuries in 20018-19, compared with 231 in 2008-2009.
There were two workforce fatalities in 2018-19; both occurred on the mainline. There were also 158 were major injuries.
There 6,247 injuries in 2018-19 on the mainline, down from 8,497 a decade years ago, and 3,520 injuries on London Underground.
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