Investigations are underway after a fourth person was killed near a railway station where a special scheme has been launched to stop fatalities.

Four people have died at or near Northallerton railway station in the past 18 months.

The latest tragedy was on Sunday evening when a man who had been on the platform was hit by the 16.01 Edinburgh to London Kings Cross train as it went through the station.

The east coast mainline was closed between York and Darlington for nearly three hours causing disruption to services. The death is being treated as non suspicious.

A special scheme to try and prevent fatalities was launched at Northallerton last August with British Transport Police working with the Samaritans and the local community.

Posters urging troubled passengers to contact the Samaritans have been put up along the platform which also has CCTV cameras. A community watch style scheme is also in operation.

A British Transport Police spokesman said:”Due to the increase in fatalities at the station it is currently the subject of a Problem Solving Plan. As a response we have undertaken a number of initiatives which the Samaritans have supported us with, including carrying out joint patrols and launching a Station Watch Scheme, where we hold monthly meetings with local residents and the community.

“The Samaritans are actively involved and at the first meeting they held an awareness workshop which covered the signs and behaviours that people may display when feeling suicidal and provided statistics on the age, race and gender of people who are more susceptible to depression and suicide.

"Volunteers for the Samaritans have also been accompanying us on high profile patrols at the station and handed out information cards. We have some excellent support and positive feedback from members of the public and rail staff at the station.”

Last year Northallerton station was named as one of the safest in the country for passengers and staff with the lowest crime to customer ratio in North Yorkshire.

Police have not yet released the identity of the man who died on Sunday and an inquest is due to be opened this week.

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