PFD report

Daniel James O'Mahony · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 30 Aug 2018•Hertfordshire

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

View original report
Concerns
6

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
5

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised6

  1. Lack of anti-trespass measures at platform ends
  2. Lack of gates at the top-of-stairs access point to platforms 2 and 3
  3. Lack of cross-hatched yellow paint on fast line platforms 1 and 2
    Part of recurring concern: Inadequate railway platform-edge safety markings
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.4

  1. Action

    Remove the outdated Samaritans sign between platforms 2 and 3.

    Stated by WM Trains LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 September 2018.
  2. Action

    Request Network Rail to standardise additional platform-end warning signs and include them in planned fencing and gate works.

    Stated by WM Trains LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 September 2018.
  3. Action

    Review station Samaritans signage against current rail industry guidance.

    Stated by WM Trains LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 September 2018.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.3

  1. Position

    Hemel Hempstead complies with the legal trespass-signage requirement because at least one red warning sign is publicly displayed at the station.

    Stated by WM Trains LimitedExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of anti-trespass measures at platform ends

Wider context from the report

“(2) Anti-trespass measures have not been installed at the end of platforms, to prevent ready access from the end of the platform to the railway lines. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of gates at the top-of-stairs access point to platforms 2 and 3

Wider context from the report

“(6)There are no gates at the access point to platform 2 and 3 at the top of the stairs, to prevent any unauthorised access to platform 2. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of cross-hatched yellow paint on fast line platforms 1 and 2

Wider context from the report

“(3) Cross hatching yellow paint is not present on the fast line platforms 1 and 2. To clearly demark the area. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate railway platform-edge safety markings.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to replace anti-trespass signage at platform ends to maintain visibility

Wider context from the report

“(4) Anti-trespass Signage has not been replaced at the end of platforms to be more visible. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Gaps in the mid-section between platforms 2 and 3

Wider context from the report

“(5)There are gaps in the mid-section between platform 2s and 3. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to review and update Samaritan signage around the station

Wider context from the report

“(1) Samaritan Signage has not been reviewed and updated around the station. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate suicide-prevention signage at railway stations.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Remove the outdated Samaritans sign between platforms 2 and 3.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Samaritans signage is displayed at stations in line with the Industry Guidance for using Samaritans Communications Materials on the Rail Network as issued by the Rail Industry Suicide Stakeholder Group. A review undertaken in October 2018 concluded that there were 10 signs containing the current Samaritans “Talk to Us” campaign and 116123 number. These signs are displayed at each platform end and 2 are displayed between platforms 2/3 in line with Industry Guidance. The review found that 1 outdated Samaritans sign was displayed on a lighting column between platforms 2/3. This has now been removed.”

Source location

2018-0258-Response-by-West-Midlands-Railway
Page 1 · response
Published 26 September 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Request Network Rail to standardise additional platform-end warning signs and include them in planned fencing and gate works.

Verbatim wording from the response

“There is a mixture of additional passenger warning signage on display at the platform ends. West Midlands Trains has requested that Network Rail update and standardise these signs and install them as part of the remit for the platform end fencing and gates if installed under concern number 2.”

Source location

2018-0258-Response-by-West-Midlands-Railway
Page 2 · response
Published 26 September 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Review station Samaritans signage against current rail industry guidance.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Samaritans signage is displayed at stations in line with the Industry Guidance for using Samaritans Communications Materials on the Rail Network as issued by the Rail Industry Suicide Stakeholder Group. A review undertaken in October 2018 concluded that there were 10 signs containing the current Samaritans “Talk to Us” campaign and 116123 number. These signs are displayed at each platform end and 2 are displayed between platforms 2/3 in line with Industry Guidance. The review found that 1 outdated Samaritans sign was displayed on a lighting column between platforms 2/3. This has now been removed.”

Source location

2018-0258-Response-by-West-Midlands-Railway
Page 1 · response
Published 26 September 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Raise replacement of the faded Platform 4 trespass warning sign with Network Rail.

Verbatim wording from the response

“A Train dispatch and platform safety risk assessment carried out on 20th April 2018 under “Passenger Behavioural Risk”, identified as Low Risk the faded additional trespass warning signage on Platform 4. This has been raised with Network Rail on the 9th November 2018 to install a new sign.”

Source location

2018-0258-Response-by-West-Midlands-Railway
Page 2 · response
Published 26 September 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Hemel Hempstead complies with the legal trespass-signage requirement because at least one red warning sign is publicly displayed at the station.

Verbatim wording from the response

“To prosecute for an offence of trespass there must be displayed at the nearest passenger station to where the offence took place, at least 1 red trespass warning sign on public display anywhere at the station. Hemel Hempstead is therefore compliant with this requirement.”

Source location

2018-0258-Response-by-West-Midlands-Railway
Page 2 · response
Published 26 September 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Network Rail is responsible for platform-end anti-trespass measures and fencing or gates; proposed works remain subject to its remit, funding and design process.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Platform end measures normally fall under the responsibility of Network Rail. Network Rail have advised that there are no standard requirements to have platform end measures, such as fencing, a gate and a form of tactile or rubber mat but they are installed when particular risk is identified and when specific funding becomes available.”

Source location

2018-0258-Response-by-West-Midlands-Railway
Page 1 · response
Published 26 September 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Cross-hatching is not required because existing fencing, gates and platform barriers adequately manage fast-line access during normal operations.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Network Rail advise that there is no requirement for cross hatching in any Network Rail standard. It has been used in isolation where there is a passenger train interface issue or risk identified such as overcrowding around stairs and where fast trains pass through narrow platforms. This is not an issue at Hemel Hempstead on these 2 platforms as Platform 1 where fast trains pass through is fenced and gated off to the public when trains are running normally as per the timetable. These gates allow access as and when Platform 1 is needed for stopping trains such as during engineering works, in perturbation such as a track blockage, or an infrastructure failure on the slow railway lines.”

Source location

2018-0258-Response-by-West-Midlands-Railway
Page 2 · response
Published 26 September 2018

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.1

  1. 1

    Install additional Samaritans signs and poster cases at the night entrance, cycle racks and subway.

    Stated by WM Trains LimitedStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 26 September 2018.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Install additional Samaritans signs and poster cases at the night entrance, cycle racks and subway.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The review also identified that other parts of the station area could benefit from additional Samaritans posters and signs. 1x metal Samaritans sign will be installed by the night entrance, 1x Samaritans metal sign will be installed on the brick wall by the cycle racks, 2x new poster cases and Samaritans posters will be installed in the subway. These have been planned in with the West Midlands Trains Property Team for action.”

Source location

2018-0258-Response-by-West-Midlands-Railway
Page 1 · response
Published 26 September 2018

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026