fango comments

To commit suicide in front of numerous strangers to include children and tourists . To commit suicide without thinking that it will traumatise the train driver and others for life (many drivers are unable to return to work). To commit suicide that will inconvenience thousands of commuters and require a massive clean- up, investigation, enquiry etc. I'd say it's selfish, find another way

Agreed, however, it seems clear that people that choose such a way to end their life do so because they have struggled with deep issues of neglect and feeling overlooked. Perhaps the shock and inconvenience their public death will cause is a last-ditch effort to feel "seen" in a society they feel has failed to deliver the love and support they desire.

Suicide by Train is a symptom of a very chronic issue.

One thing is absolutely clear; international tourism won't be making a strong come back to the country's desperate travel sector any time soon.

Tepid interest in restrictive group tours which are typically only popular with the Chinese market means the government needs to fast-track an action plan to let free-moving travellers back into the country. This was a step everyone in the travel industry was crossing their fingers for after the elections earlier this month. Unfortunately, the 7th wave pushing case numbers through the roof couldn't come at a worse time - the government has now scrapped their domestic tourism initiative, and it's very clear that their "watch and act accordingly" strategy towards opening the border is a shaky house of cards resting on the back of domestic tourism programs being rolled out without case numbers shooting up.

By the time this wave subsides, domestic initiatives resume, and the government "watches and acts accordingly" for a little longer, we will be right on the doorstep of winter and an 8th surge.