IT doesn’t take much to say hello to a stranger at the train station.

And to some people who have hit rock bottom, it could all the difference.

What may seem like an innocent smile or a daft reference to the weather could be the thing which prevents someone taking their own life the railway.

Figures released by Network Rail show the public in Essex have prevented 24 suicides in the past three years.

Following the launch of Small Talk Saves Lives by Samaritans, in partnership with British Transport Police, national figures reveal there were also 136 interventions by members of the public between January and September this year – a 20 per cent increase compared with 2017.

The figures coincide with the launch of a new phase of Small Talk Saves Lives, which emphasises how simple it can be to help save a life.

The same small talk we use every day can be enough to interrupt someone’s suicidal thoughts and encourage them to get help.

Figures from the Rail Safety and Standards Board show between 2003 and 2010, there were 1,448 railway suicide fatalities and a further 282 attempted suicides resulting in injury.

British Transport Police Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: “We know from our officers’ experiences that when someone is at risk on the railway, simply engaging them in conversation can make all the difference and help set them on the road to recovery.

“Together with Network Rail and Samaritans, we’re highlighting to the public the small talk the public do so naturally every day really can help.

“We’re also encouraging those who don’t feel comfortable or safe to intervene to tell a member of rail staff or a police officer, many of whom have been trained by Samaritans, or call 999.”

Small Talk Saves Lives was developed after research showed passengers could have a key role to play in suicide prevention, along with the thousands of rail staff and British Transport Police.

For every life lost on the railway, six are saved by those around them.

Colchester Samaritans’ branch director Gaynor Bell said: “As the campaign says just saying a simple hello to someone who you think might need help could be all that’s needed to interrupt their possible suicidal thoughts.

“Volunteers from Colchester Samaritans have been working with and supporting Network Rail for many years and we feel it is a vital way we can reach out to our community and support people who might be struggling to cope with what’s going on in their lives.”

Colchester also has another group of good samaritans - the rail pastors.

The group of volunteers, who have all been street pastors in the past, launched an initiative across Essex to support vulnerable people at train stations.

They patrol at stations between Colchester to Shenfield.

About 20 volunteers across the county have been trained to patrol throughout the day and into the evening, helping anyone who is vulnerable or distressed.

Phil Norton, is one of the rail pastors. He said: “We patrol in our bright blue uniform in teams of at least three. We have had two interventions over the past two months.

“Both of these incidents where dealt with well by the volunteers who listened sensitively to the individuals concerned and handed them into the care of appropriate organisations.

“We spend most of our time talking and building relationships with anyone who uses the rail system as a worker or a customer.

“So many people have been affected by the suicide of a family member, or friend or have witnessed something around this issue.

“We have found a real benefit in being available for people to just chat these things through with us and we have many positive stories now of people who have felt some form of closure on what they went through.“This includes some police and rail staff.”

Small Talk Saves Lives encourages rail passengers to notice what may be warning signs, for example a person standing alone and isolated, looking distant or withdrawn, staying on the platform a long time without boarding a train or displaying something out of the ordinary in their behaviour or appearance.

There is no single sign which means a person is suicidal but, if something does not feel right, the message is to act.

The emphasis is on responding in ways people feel comfortable and safe with.

This can be by approaching the person and asking them a question to distract them from their thoughts, to involving other passengers, alerting a member of rail staff or calling the police.

Find out more about Small Talk Saves Lives at samaritans.org/smalltalksaveslives.