Men push commuter on to rail track

Linda Buchanan, 58, suffered bruising and a fractured wrist and was taken to hospital after the incident, which happened at Farningham Road station in Kent during Wednesday morning's rush hour.

She told Sky News: "I'm just thinking at the end of the day I am lucky to be alive. It could have been a lot worse than it has been. I'm just shocked by the whole experience."

Detective Inspector Bob Richardson of British Transport Police said Ms Buchanan was lucky she did not land on the track's live rail.

He said: "It would appear the woman had spoken to the men about smoking earlier this week.

"(On Wednesday) morning when she was at the station, she was walking past the same men when one of them pushed her and she fell onto the track. She suffered a fractured wrist and bruising to her legs. She was taken to hospital for treatment but has since been released.

"The woman was very lucky she was not more seriously injured. The third rail carries 750 volts of electricity and she could have been electrocuted or even struck by an early morning train."

Southeastern train services between Kent and London were disrupted because the live rail had to be turned off. The train company said the woman was rescued by fellow passengers after the attack.

A Southeastern spokesman said: "We are appalled by this incident and hope the perpetrators are quickly identified."

Smoking is banned on station platforms.