Train driver Don helped save a woman’s life by using small talk to connect with her and bring her to safety.
Since then, the 2024 ‘Train Driver of the Year’ has used his YouTube channel, 'The Best Cab Ride Channel', with over 51,000 subscribers, to support mental health awareness and raise funds for Samaritans.
“In 2020, I picked up what seemed like a platform full of football supporters. They must have won because they were in good spirits. I remember the train being full, and they were jubilant. There was lots of shouting and cheering. It was all good fun on the train.
“I continued on my way when the signaler asked me to stop the train. I brought the train to a stand and asked the conductor to come down to the front. The signal person asked me what I was going to do. I said I’d approach the person and see if I could get them to come over. I did not know what to expect.
“So, I climbed down from the cab, and approached the person, very aware that I didn’t want to appear intimidating. As I started walking towards the person, I saw it was a woman.
“I instantly started speaking quietly to her. I said, "Hello, are you okay?" And she said, "I want to die." There's something about hearing that, when you've got daughters yourself. It resonates a bit.
“When we turned to go to the train, she took my arm. It was tricky to walk, so we took our time and walked back to the train. Getting into a train cab is like climbing up the side of a bungalow, but the conductor was waiting there, and between us, we got her up into the train. She was safe.
“As it was an exceptional situation, I had to radio in to get permission for her to be in the cab. Once this was granted, she sat on what we call a second-person seat, a little flip-down seat on the side of the cab.
I was in the cab, in the driver's seat, and I just started to talk – was regular small talk.
“I talked to her about my daughters. You know, what kind of things they do, what they were into.
"We talked about all sorts of things. And then I said, oh, oh, look at your nails - they're nice, my daughters do the nails like that.
When the British Transport Police arrived, they came to the cab, and I introduced them to the woman. They took her out of the cab – and I had a lump in my throat as she stepped out onto the platform. As she was leaving, she turned round, waved with one hand and smiled at me. I felt a bit like I connected with her, just by chatting with her.
“After meeting her, I decided I wanted to do something to help people who were struggling with their mental health. I set up my YouTube channel, which has over 50,000 subscribers, enabling me to donate to Samaritans every year. It pays for people to be trained to help those in crisis and for Samaritans to take the phone calls.
“You see, small talk really does save lives.”
