A reception held at the House of Commons on 27 October celebrated the Railway Mission’s work and unveiled a new training initiative to provide mental health support for rail staff. The event, hosted by Lillian Greenwood MP and sponsored by Net Company, underscored the Mission’s essential role in supporting the wellbeing of the railway workforce.
The Railway Mission was established in 1881. It currently has over 20 Chaplains who provide support to around 10,000 people in the industry each year. This includes post incident support. Last year, Chaplains engaged with 3,300 rail staff involved in 483 incidents of which 278 were rail suicides and 57 were attempted suicides.
Liam Johnston, the Railway Mission’s executive director, opened the event by emphasising that the railway is not just about infrastructure but is primarily about people. The Mission’s chaplaincy service supports everyone in the industry, he said, from executives to new recruits, offering compassionate care and a listening ear during life’s most difficult moments.
He then handed over to Lillian Greenwood, the MP for Nottingham South and former chair of the Transport Select Committee who was hosting the event. As a passionate advocate for railways and sustainable transport she was proud to support the vital work of the Railway Mission. The reception was a chance to recognise the dedication of frontline staff who make a real difference every day. She advised that Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy, who also was a strong supporter of the Railway Mission, was to join the reception later.
Claire Keville, business manager for the Mission, then highlighted the mental health challenges facing rail workers. She revealed that in 2021 a rail health survey had shown that:
- One in three rail workers had a mental health condition, compared to one in six in the general UK workforce.
- Anxiety levels among rail workers were found to be 1.5 times higher than the national average.
Ten percent of rail employees exhibited signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – double the national average.
Claire warned that these figures are likely to worsen without proactive intervention. She explained that the unique pressures and traumatic incidents common in the rail environment make workers especially vulnerable to mental health issues, leading to increased sickness absence and burnout.
In response to these challenges, Railway Mission has, in collaboration with the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators, developed P Coaching. This new training initiative is designed to help rail staff build resilience and manage their mental health. Claire described how the program was born out of conversations with senior industry leaders who required internal, cost-effective training tailored to the realities of rail work. P training was launched in successful pilot programs for Carlisle Support Services and Northern Trains. It is designed to give rail professionals the skills to manage the mental and emotional demands of those working in the rail industry.
Richard Davis, UK head of Net Company, which sponsors the Railway Mission, spoke about the importance of supporting people in high-pressure industries. Drawing parallels between rail and technology workers, he emphasised everyone suffers if they cannot be their best selves, whether in or out of work. Davis praised the Railway Mission’s work and reaffirmed Net Company’s commitment to supporting the initiative.
Liam Johnston concluded the reception’s speeches with a call for collaboration across government, industry, and support organisations. He encouraged those present to connect with chaplains, explore the new training initiative, and continue building a culture of care within the railway family.
Image credit: David Shirres