Police have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of a man’s body on railway tracks after he is believed to have been chased.
Detectives from British Transport Police initially thought the incident, at Knockholt station in Kent on Sunday night, was not suspicious, but later said new information had come to light.
Officers were called to the station at 00.05am on Monday following reports from a train driver that a body had been seen on the tracks near to the station.
Police believe that shortly before 9.30pm on Sunday, the victim was chased into the station by another man.
Police officers have launched a murder probe after a man was found dead on train tracks
The victim was then chased on to the tracks. A short while later, the other man walked back onto the platform and exited the station.
A British Transport Police (BTP) spokeswoman said it is not yet clear whether the man was hit by a train or fatally injured by other means.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Langley, said: ‘Understandably this is an incredibly upsetting incident for this man’s family and we have specialist family liaison officers offering them support.
‘Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, we believe this man to be a 24-year-old from the Croydon area of London.
‘A post-mortem examination will take place in the coming days, from this we hope to understand exactly how this man died.
‘In the meantime, we are trawling through all available CCTV and looking to speak with any witnesses or local residents who saw or heard anything.
‘Knockholt station is in a rural location and I know that very few people are likely to have been in the area at the time when both the victim and suspect went on to the tracks.
‘However, if you were in the area at the time and a man chasing another, please contact us as a matter of urgency.’
The train service which reported seeing the body was the 11.40pm Sevenoaks to London Charing Cross service.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact BTP by calling 0800 40 50 40, or by passing information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.