PFD report

Stephen Sean CAHILL · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 23 Aug 2016•Bedfordshire and Luton

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
2

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
7

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.

Report evidence summary

Concerns raised2

  1. Failure to undertake a review of fencing and access gates at the location
  2. Inadequate deterrence and hindrance provided by railway access gates and fencing
    Part of recurring concern: Failure to prevent public access to closed or restricted hazardous sitesPart of recurring concern: Ineffective controls preventing access to railway tracks
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.1

  1. Action

    Deliver over 600 metres of fencing and upgrade nearby gates to deter unauthorised railway access.

    Stated by Network Rail Infrastructure LimitedStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 August 2016.

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 undertake a review of fencing and access gates at the location

Wider context from the report

“(1) The British Transport investigation revealed that the deceased gained access to the railway line through an access gate. Both the gate and fence provide little deterrence or hindrance to someone wanting to gain access to the railway. (2) The Investigation recommended a review of the fencing and access gates be undertaken at the location as it is relatively easy to access the track from both sides of the line. It is understood that this has not been undertaken. ”

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

Inadequate deterrence and hindrance provided by railway access gates and fencing

Wider context from the report

“(1) The British Transport investigation revealed that the deceased gained access to the railway line through an access gate. Both the gate and fence provide little deterrence or hindrance to someone wanting to gain access to the railway. (2) The Investigation recommended a review of the fencing and access gates be undertaken at the location as it is relatively easy to access the track from both sides of the line. It is understood that this has not been undertaken. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Failure to prevent public access to closed or restricted hazardous sites; Ineffective controls preventing access to railway tracks.

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

Deliver over 600 metres of fencing and upgrade nearby gates to deter unauthorised railway access.

Verbatim wording from the response

“• We have commissioned works to enhance the fencing and gates in this area. These works will be delivered by 15th January 2017 and will be to install over 600m of fencing and upgrade the gate height and construction to deter unauthorised access to the railway in the area.”

Source location

2016-0304-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 1 · response
Published 23 August 2016

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.6

  1. 1

    Maintain physical access-prevention measures including platform-end barriers, station fencing and lineside boundary fencing.

    Stated by Network Rail Infrastructure LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 23 August 2016.
  2. 2

    Train staff to recognise and respond to members of the public who may be considering suicide.

    Stated by Network Rail Infrastructure LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 August 2016.
  3. 3

    Operate four joint railway-safety projects with the British Transport Police.

    Stated by Network Rail Infrastructure LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 August 2016.
  4. 4

    Engage local authorities at points along this area of railway to address unauthorised access and suicide risk.

    Stated by Network Rail Infrastructure LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 23 August 2016.
  5. 5

    Continue exploring additional suicide-prevention opportunities with the British Transport Police, train operators and Samaritans.

    Stated by Network Rail Infrastructure LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 August 2016.
  6. 6

    Support Samaritans campaigns aimed at reducing suicides on the railway.

    Stated by Network Rail Infrastructure LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 August 2016.

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

Maintain physical access-prevention measures including platform-end barriers, station fencing and lineside boundary fencing.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We take the issue of suicide very seriously. On the route from Peterborough to Kind Cross we have invested significantly in removing the opportunities for unauthorised access to the railway. We have done this primarily through physical mitigation such as platform end barriers, mid-platform fences at stations and lineside fencing at our boundary line. As part of this work we currently have four joint projects with the British Transport Police and have recently engaged with several local authorities at points within this area of railway. We continue to explore what other opportunities can be realised together with our partners the British Transport Police, Train Operators and Samaritans.”

Source location

2016-0304-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 1 · response
Published 23 August 2016

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

Train staff to recognise and respond to members of the public who may be considering suicide.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Nationally we have been working with the Samaritans since 2010 supporting campaigns aimed at reducing suicides on the railway as well as training our staff to be better prepared to recognise and respond to members of the public who may be considering ending their lives.”

Source location

2016-0304-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 1 · response
Published 23 August 2016

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

Operate four joint railway-safety projects with the British Transport Police.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We take the issue of suicide very seriously. On the route from Peterborough to Kind Cross we have invested significantly in removing the opportunities for unauthorised access to the railway. We have done this primarily through physical mitigation such as platform end barriers, mid-platform fences at stations and lineside fencing at our boundary line. As part of this work we currently have four joint projects with the British Transport Police and have recently engaged with several local authorities at points within this area of railway. We continue to explore what other opportunities can be realised together with our partners the British Transport Police, Train Operators and Samaritans.”

Source location

2016-0304-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 1 · response
Published 23 August 2016

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

Engage local authorities at points along this area of railway to address unauthorised access and suicide risk.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We take the issue of suicide very seriously. On the route from Peterborough to Kind Cross we have invested significantly in removing the opportunities for unauthorised access to the railway. We have done this primarily through physical mitigation such as platform end barriers, mid-platform fences at stations and lineside fencing at our boundary line. As part of this work we currently have four joint projects with the British Transport Police and have recently engaged with several local authorities at points within this area of railway. We continue to explore what other opportunities can be realised together with our partners the British Transport Police, Train Operators and Samaritans.”

Source location

2016-0304-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 1 · response
Published 23 August 2016

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

Continue exploring additional suicide-prevention opportunities with the British Transport Police, train operators and Samaritans.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We take the issue of suicide very seriously. On the route from Peterborough to Kind Cross we have invested significantly in removing the opportunities for unauthorised access to the railway. We have done this primarily through physical mitigation such as platform end barriers, mid-platform fences at stations and lineside fencing at our boundary line. As part of this work we currently have four joint projects with the British Transport Police and have recently engaged with several local authorities at points within this area of railway. We continue to explore what other opportunities can be realised together with our partners the British Transport Police, Train Operators and Samaritans.”

Source location

2016-0304-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 1 · response
Published 23 August 2016

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

Support Samaritans campaigns aimed at reducing suicides on the railway.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Nationally we have been working with the Samaritans since 2010 supporting campaigns aimed at reducing suicides on the railway as well as training our staff to be better prepared to recognise and respond to members of the public who may be considering ending their lives.”

Source location

2016-0304-Response-by-Network-Rail
Page 1 · response
Published 23 August 2016

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

Official responses located
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Data last updated 7 September 2026