Man charged with GBH after woman is pushed onto railway line

A man was charged today in connection with an incident in which a woman was pushed on to a railway line, the British Transport Police said.

Linda Buchanan, 58, suffered a fractured wrist and bruising to her legs at Farningham Road station following an altercation at the station at 7am on August 6.

She narrowly missed the live third rail carrying 750 volts of electricity and said she felt lucky to be alive after the shocking experience.

Ionel Rapisca, 30, of Dartford, Kent, was charged with grievous bodily harm over the incident.

Mrs Buchanan, a senior managing consultant at DBM plc in the City, was waiting with fellow commuters on 6th August for the 7.12am train to London Victoria.

The mother-of-three had asked two men to stop flouting the smoking ban at the station twice in the week  of the attack.

It is alleged the two men approached her, which led to a scuffle and Mrs Buchanan falling onto the line. It was not clear if she was pushed deliberately onto the track or if she was shoved and she then stumbled onto the line accidentally.

Mr Rapisca was arrested and bailed five days after the incident, and was charged after being re-interviewed by police today.

A police spokesman said Mr Rapsica has been granted conditional bail to appear before Dartford Magistrates Court on September 10.

Farningham Road station where the shocking incident occurred on August 6th

The bail conditions include that he is not permitted to enter Farningham Road station, he is not permitted to travel on trains to London Victoria and he is not permitted to make contact with any prosecution witness.

No further action will be taken against an 18-year-old who was also arrested in connection with the incident, the spokesman said.