Suicides were responsible for more than half the 40,600 train service suspensions or delays across the Tokyo metropolitan area in fiscal 2008, with 307 people taking their own lives, according to a transport ministry survey.

The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry held a meeting Monday with 12 major railway companies in the area including East Japan Railway Co. and Tokyo Metro Co., and asked to them consider examining the effectiveness of blue lighting in stations--which is thought to help to change the minds of suicidal people about taking their own lives.

The ministry surveyed the causes of cancellations and delays of 30 minutes or longer in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba prefectures.

While the number of such rail transport disruptions across the nation decreased by about 1,000 on fiscal 2007 figures, the number in the Tokyo metropolitan area increased 4,400 from the previous fiscal year.

Suicide topped the reasons for the disruptions in the metropolitan area, affecting 21,100 train services, which is 2,900 more than in fiscal 2007.

The second highest cause was mechanical failures, including signal malfunctions, which affected 7,200 trains.

The total number of all incidents has decreased from a fiscal 2005 peak, with 679 cases recorded in fiscal 2008, 20 cases fewer than in the previous year. However, among all of the reasons for train service disruptions only suicide figures are rising, with the 307 suicides in fiscal 2008, representing an increase of 19 from fiscal 2007 figures.

A rail expert said dealing with the aftermath of a person's death on the rails tends to result in delays to many trains because it takes longer to deal with than problems such as mechanical faults.