The RailStaff Awards 2024

Jane Waterfield

Great Western Railway

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Nominations for Samaritans Lifesaver Award

Lee Goodson

Said the following about Jane Waterfield:

“Great Western Railway (GWR) is one of the biggest rail franchises in the UK, part of the First Group of companies, operating the Western network since 1996, rebranding ourselves as GWR in 2015. We employ over 6000 people across our network and we carry more than one and a half million customers over two million single journeys on 10,000 services every week. People are at the heart of our business and our ethos is that we are 'greater together'.

Jane was working at the station, which is a single staffed station, when she saw a female passenger acting strangely on the station. Thinking something was wrong Jane asked if she was OK and saw she was visibility upset and sat the woman down on the platform to talk to her.

After talking to her for a good amount of time Jane found out she was intending on jumping in front of a train to take her own life. Jane remained calm even though the station was busy that day and persuaded the lady to move inside of the waiting room to a place of safety. This took a great degree of compassion and skill, especially making sure not to distress the other passengers present or the lady herself, who was clearly very fragile and obviously serious in her intent to take her own life.

Jane managed to calm the lady down which allowed her to call the police and ambulance service to help the lady get the care and support she needed. As the station is single staffed Jane had to manage this situation as well as deal with trains arriving and departing, other passengers and tickets all at once.

Before the Ambulance/police arrived the made her way onto the platform whilst Jane was talking on the phone to control explaining her situation the lady ran towards the platform. Once again Jane reacted quickly moving passengers away and getting to the lady in time, again moving her to a position of safety by talking and reassuring her. Jane’s act was incredibly brave and selfless.

Jane remained with this lady until the emergency services arrived.“