Great Western Rail (GWR) will install a new fence and consider placing suicide prevention phones at Ealing Broadway station after a number of deaths there .

Mark Hopwood, managing director of GWR, said work is also currently taking place at the station to extend the existing safety fence on the main platform.

The announcement follows a request from Councillor Alex Stafford who wrote to GWR after he claimed there were four fatalities at the station in 2015.

In his response, Mr Hopwood said: "Work is currently taking place at the station to extend the safety fence on the up main platform.

"This will give us more resilience and control access on to this platform.

"On January 8 2016, members of my team along with Network Rail and the British Transport Police presented to the RSSB a derogation submission, which will allow us to install a retractable fence to further prevent access to the up main line.

"The RSSB has approved our submission and we are hoping to install the new retractable fence in the very near future."

GWL have not yet revealed details about what it will look like.

Series of suicides

In his letter to GWL Conservative Councillor Stafford, who represents the Ealing Broadway ward, pleaded with them to consider new measures and referenced a series of suicides.

He highlighted the case of a mother and teenage daughter taking their own lives in October 2015 and how a number of people have been asking him to take action.

Councillor Stafford also called for the instillation of suicide prevention phones after claiming they had been implemented successfully in the USA.

GWR replied that they were seriously considering installing the phones upon the completion of Crossrail developments.

Mr Hopwood added: "Given the huge footfall - 19 million passengers per annum - at this station and the confined customer areas, we have not been able to identify a suitable location to install Samaritans phones.

"In addition, having taken advice from the Samaritans it is important to note that these phones must be easily seen and accessible, whilst at the same time ensuring that a person, who is likely to be distressed, can use the phone in private.

"Ealing Broadway station is currently undergoing major rebuilding work associated with CrossRail and as such we are mindful that on completion of the building work there will be new customer areas in which a Samaritans phone could be installed.

"We will work with the developers and CrossRail to find a suitable location to install a Samaritans phone on completion of the building works."

getwestlondon has gone to Samaritans for comment.

Councillor Stafford praised the response as a positive step forward and said he is now looking to liaise with all relevant parties to look into further improvements.

He added: "This is very good news for Ealing. I will continue to liaise with all the local residents to try and discuss this issue."