Delay repay donation

Mental health has been rising up the nation’s agenda recently, even to the point where the members of its first family feel able to talk about it in interviews. Those of us who are fortunate not to suffer mental health problems (or don’t think we do) probably think it is an issue that only affects someone else.

As rail users, we are all too often witnesses to incidents when mental breakdown manifests itself most dramatically - when trains are delayed by ‘an incident involving the emergency services’.

These delays, erroneously attributed to Network Rail, are on the increase. And when they occur, they bring distress to family, friends, users and rail staff.

Rather than simply shrug our shoulders, can we do something to turn this tide of human misery?

Under new franchises, operators are introducing automated ‘delay repay’ for season ticket holders who will be invited to nominate their usual train(s), and if one is delayed they get an automatic message asking if they wish to claim.

I expect few of us feel comfortable claiming for suspected suicides - they put our own problems into perspective and are clearly outside the industry’s control. In such cases, we should be given the option of directing our automated repayments to fund mental health charities such as Mind or the Samaritans. These organisations would point out that very few of the people who contact them would ever contemplate taking their own lives, but that when this does happen we should all feel responsible.

There are many who see this as a ‘win-win’ proposal. Besides being a noble gesture, it would increase awareness that delays are often not the fault of the railway, and by focusing resources into mental health work would lead to a reduction in delays caused by these unfortunate events. Let’s turn tragedy into opportunity.

Phil Smart, Suffolk