Woman Pushed Onto Railway Line in Smoking Row

The woman suffered a fractured wrist and bruising to her legs but Richardson said it could have been more serious.

Police said a woman was lucky to escape with her life after being pushed onto train tracks following a row with two men about smoking.

The 58-year-old woman was walking along the London-bound platform at Farningham Road train station in Kent at about 7 a.m. when she became embroiled in an argument with the men, said to be in their early to mid 20s.

"It would appear the woman had spoken to the men about smoking earlier this week," said Detective Inspector Bob Richardson of British Transport Police.

"This 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."

The woman suffered a fractured wrist and bruising to her legs but Richardson said it could have been more serious.

"The third rail carries 750 volts of electricity and she could have been electrocuted or even struck by an early morning train," he said.

Police are now examining CCTV from the station and appealing for witnesses.

Smoking has been banned on station platforms since new laws came into force last year.