London Evening Standard/London

A mother and her child were hit and killed by a train in front of horrified rush-hour commuters at a suburban London station yesterday.

The woman is said to have leapt onto the tracks with her toddler son and lain down seconds before a train pulled into Riddlesdown station near Purley at 8.29am.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after commuters and staff dialled 999 but the pair were declared dead at the scene. The station was closed as police launched an investigation.

The tragedy caused major delays for commuters and replacement bus services had to be provided to and from a number of south London stations. Witnesses said the woman appeared to be clutching her child as she jumped onto the tracks at the suburban station.

Police said the death of the child, who was thought to be two or three years old, is expected to be treated as a homicide.

Commuter Paul Camlett, 38, said: “I had just arrived when the station master rounded everyone up and ordered them off the platform. Everybody was at first oblivious to what had happened but then a woman screamed, ‘There’s a body on the track’.

“I’m at the office now but can’t work. I’m in shock. People were crying. They were in complete shock. The woman who screamed couldn’t speak afterwards.”

Police were trying to trace relatives of the victims, who are believed to have lived locally.

British Transport Police said: “Officers were called to Riddlesdown station yesterday morning after a report that a woman and a child had been struck by a train.

“Medics from the London Ambulance Service also attended but the woman and child were declared dead at the scene.

“The station has been temporarily closed while we deal with this. Inquiries are going on to establish the circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

The victims were hit by the 7.38am Uckfield to London Bridge service.

Southern Rail said services between Sanderstead and Oxted were severely disrupted and shuttle buses were running on a number of routes.

In 2005 Navjeet Sidhu, 27, jumped in front of a Heathrow Express train at Southall clutching her five-year-old daughter and 23-month-old son. All three died instantly.