Why do people throw themselves under trains,somebody has to clean up that mess?

Question

Antony, at last a sensible ruling.

Answer 1

I've had the displeasure of seeing a man jump in front of a train in Japan. It happened right in front of me, so I got to see the whole thing, and I must say that it is something I wish I had never, ever seen! It happened when the train station was quite busy. Everyone on the train had to stay on the train. They wouldn't open the doors to let anyone out. I just left the station, took a taxi home and sat there in shock, then broke down. I saw someone die a very horrible death. The train driver must have been in an even worse state of mind at that time.

It's not a very considerate thing to do. Thousands of people are held up at train stations, many witnesses will have to go through counseling and probably have nightmares for a long time, and the person's family and friends will have to go through a very difficult time. It affects so many people. But I don't think that people who commit suicide think of that. It is a very selfish act if they do it in a train station. The mess on the train tracks is irrelevant. It's the mess that it makes of other people's lives that's more difficult to clean up or heal.

One thing that I can't help thinking about is what would have happened if I was standing beside him when he decided to jump. I could have stopped him! I was about 3 metres away from him when he ran and jumped. No way I could have stopped him.

Answer 2

In one of Paulo Coehlo's books he claimed that in Japan the reatives of the suicide are sent the bill for the cleaning. Very harsh, but supposedly it reduces the suicides on the railways because other people wanting to commit suicide do not want to bring such shame upon their families.
I do obviously feel so sorry for everyone who hates life so much they commit suicide, but it just seems such a selfish way to go. All the trauma that you would put the driver, the passengers, the people at the station through, not to mention the cleaners (i can't imagine you look forward to work that day). A friend of a friend was on a platform where a suicide was committed but the person did not fully jump in front of the train, apparently the platform was like the scene of a horror movie. I can't imagine how you could get over witnessing something like that. The suicide barriers on some tube stations are a great idea.

Answer 3

What about the driver of the train?
I am a train-driver and in my career so far, I have killed 2 people with my train.
The official verdict is suicide. But as far as I am concerned - I took their lives, therefore I killed them.
The people that 'clean up' after a train suicide can switch off to a point because what they 'clean' isn't recognisable as once human.

The cleaners do their job with clinical detachment. The suicide approaches the end of their life with something like clinical detachment.
The Driver, well he/she has a split second in which to react to a person throwing them-self in front of the train. The feelings of Fear, Panic, Horror and downright Shock are extremely intense.
They carry on for weeks and months afterwards. Some drivers even contemplate suicide as well (NOT BY TRAIN).
It wasn't our fault. It was un-avoidable.
These may be true but the fact remains - I was at the controls of a train when someone went under it and died!
The people that commit suicide this way want a QUICK end. without even considering consequences.

I personally wish that no-one did it this way because I don't think I could take it if someone else died!

Answer 4

I was going to do this once and then the train was delayed because someone had jumped at a station before me. You have to join a queue now. How inconsiderate when I had done all the research for the best station as well which is Embankment northern line. The tunnel is curved so the driver will never see you in time

Answer 5

Heres the good News for you little "Hazard" due to a European Ruling -- you now have to get into a Plastic Bag before throwing yourself under a Train - Lorry Etc .. so there won,t be any Mess ---- Happy Now.????

Answer 6

A very good friend of mine killed himself by jumping out in front of a train. Why? We never found out, and almost certainly never will.
To the people who say that such an act is selfish, I very much doubt you have ever been in such a position to comment. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but for someone to actually step out in front of that train must show how desperate they are. Do you really think their worried about holding up the trains for bit? show some compassion, please?
Also, he did it at 2.30 in the morning (hardly rush hour) and there wasn't a mark on his body, the impact killed him and he was thrown to the side of the track.

Sorry for being a bit depressing, but I do miss him.

Answer 7

convinced. it is my conception that no one is stupid sufficient to imagine they are going to win through putting Palin on the bill. That became an obvious attempt to throw the election. i imagine the reason behind it became to bypass the torch to the different area because there became too a lot warmth on the Republican party and if the Democrats took over and persisted all the same rules, no count number number in the experience that they were each and every of the very similar and no one tried to conceal it, the yankee public would not positioned it jointly. and they have not. i imagine Gore threw the election to the Republicans too. they're all one party doing one component and no one looks to work out it. they're no longer battling one yet another, they're operating jointly.

Answer 8

your question is a bit crude. Someone throws themselves under a train and all you care about is the clean up? Maybe they were pushed, murdered. Would you be worried about the clean up then? I don't know why someone would do it other than to commit suicide.

Answer 9

I think it terribly inconsiderate to others to throw one's self under a train. bus, or lorrie. I say a Chelsea tractor at high speed would be better. And yes, one must climb in to an approved bag first.
--That Cheeky Lad

Answer 10

I'm guessing that the person who is troubled enough to be able to fling themselves under a train has more on their mind than who's cleaning it up.