日铁路车站安装蓝灯防自杀

Tokyo train operators alarmed at a rise in station suicides have bathed the city's platforms in blue light in a bid to calm passengers.

East Japan Railway Co. has spent £100,000 fitting out all 29 stations on the capital's central train loop, the Yamanote Line, with the strong bulbs.

The operators believe they will emit a soothing glow, despite the absence of any scientific proof that the method reduces suicides.

Mizuki Takahashi, a therapist involved with the project, said: "We associate the colour with the sky and the sea.

"It has a calming effect on agitated people, or people obsessed with one particular thing, which in this case is committing suicide."

A total of 68 people threw themselves in front of trains in the 12 months until March, up from 42 in the same period the year before.

Suicide rates across the country have risen amid economic strife.

The lights will be hung at the end of each platform, a spot where people are most likely to jump to their deaths.

Shinji Hira, a psychology professor, said while the blue lights could make people pause and reflect, the railways were better off following Tokyo's underground network in installing fences on its platforms.

East Japan Railway said the funds for such a project on the Yamanote Line - used by up to eight million passengers each day - would not be available until at least 2017.

日本东京火车站自杀案例数量不断上升，为谨防类似事件的发生，东京地铁运营商在沿线各站的站台上安装了蓝色的灯，以帮助乘客平静情绪。

东日本铁路公司耗资10万英镑，在首都中心铁路环线“山手线”的所有29个车站内安装这种强光灯泡。

运营商认为，这些蓝色灯能够发出一种可稳定情绪的光芒，尽管目前还没有任何科学依据可证明这种方法可减少自杀的发生。

参与该项目的治疗专家高桥水木说：“看见蓝色，我们就会联想到天空和大海。”

“蓝色对于情绪激动的人或执意要做某事的人具有镇静的作用，具体到我们的情况就是自杀。”

在截至今年三月的一年中，东京铁路线共发生68起卧轨自杀事件，去年同期为42起。

在经济危机的大背景下，日本全国的自杀率也有所上升。

这些蓝灯投入使用后，将被挂在每个站台的尽头，这里是自杀事件高发区域。

心理学教授平干申智说，尽管蓝灯可能会让人们驻足反思，但火车站最好还是能效仿东京地铁站，在站台上修建护栏。

东日本铁路公司说，在山手线修建护栏工程的资金最早要到2017年才能到位。山手线的日均旅客量达800万。

Vocabulary:

fit out: to equip; supply with necessary or new equipment, clothes, etc. 配备（The kitchen is very well fitted out. 这间厨房设备齐全。）

better off: in a better or more prosperous condition 境况好起来（Since my husband was made the manager, we are better off. 自从我的丈夫被任命为经理以来，我们的境况好转了。）