Suicide prevention train platforms
Newer train lines in Japan have suicide prevention platforms. 5-foot walls span the entire platform, with doors that only open when the train has safely stopped at the station. Jumping in front of a moving train is one of the most common suicide methods in Japan—it was, at least, until people started spreading information on how to gas themselves at home.



Couldnt they just stick their head out, and instant decapitation?
Posted by: Dragonfang18 | September 25, 2008 at 07:32 PM
It looks like the check-in counter at an airport. I hope these don't make people hate trains....
Posted by: Jarrett | September 25, 2008 at 10:09 PM
What is wrong with this situation????
Posted by: William | September 25, 2008 at 10:33 PM
I always thought those were to prevent people from getting accidentally pushed onto the tracks by the huge crowds during rush hour...
Posted by: johnx | September 26, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Hey is that the つくば (tuskuba) express?) That tripped me out as well the first time I saw it in a picture, as I never used that train myself. I think it's been a few years and still haven't seen walls/doors blocking other trains on the metro.
If people want to die, well...don't fuck it up for the rest of us, but I do like if it helps kids to be safe. Children are just crazy.
Posted by: vagrant | September 26, 2008 at 02:05 AM
We've got them on the Jubilee Underground line in London as well. Ours go the full height of the platform though so no climbing over the top.
Posted by: kiboro | September 26, 2008 at 05:23 AM
They're not everywhere, though. I only saw them at about half of the stations I came through. I've also noticed that hotel windows are similarly pegged to prevent jumping. Altogether, safer's probably better.
Posted by: ninjagin | September 26, 2008 at 08:15 AM
Airport monorails often have doors set into glass walls on the platform that only open when the train doors open, and I always figured there must be a reason why they didn't do this for subways - but then I rode the subway in Hong Kong, and they actually have this setup exactly. It seems like an obvious improvement, knowing that subway deaths do occur with some frequency (which is not surprising, given how close to the edge of the platform city dwellers tend to calmly stand - what is surprising is how little press coverage these gruesome deaths receive, especially considering how a little public awareness of the danger might encourage people to be more careful). I actually heard a rumor that the new 2nd Ave subway line in NYC might use doors like this when (if?) it’s ever finished, which would have the added benefit of allowing the platforms to be air conditioned.
Posted by: Pallavicini | September 26, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Oh, come ON, these are NOT anti-suicide barriers. They're ordinary safety barriers! They simply replace the traditional platform agent that just about every other train platform in Tokyo has. You know, the white gloved employees with their wireless mics, signaling to the trains that you see on every platform.
Posted by: Calton Bolick | September 27, 2008 at 09:46 AM