A WOMAN was killed by a train at Hounslow Central under-ground station in an apparent suicide on Bank Holiday Monday.

The 63-year-old, from Hounslow, was hit by a Heathrow-bound Piccadilly Line tube at around 10.15am.

Following the tragedy, the shocked driver of the train left his cabin to alert station staff - who immediately called the emergency services.

An air ambulance and several medical response vehicles arrived soon after, alongside British Transport Police officers and London Fire Brigade crews.

But the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are treating the case as a 'deliberate act'.

Passengers on the train were taken off at Hounslow Central, which remained closed for nearly an hour as officers carried out investigations of the site.

According to an underground worker, the station has a grim history of suicides - with the last incident just over a year ago on the opposite eastbound platform.

He told the Chronicle: "That time the person jumped about halfway along the platform, when the train is still moving quite fast."

The worker revealed the design of outdoor tracks in suburban areas like Hounslow may be a factor in the number of suicides there.

He explained: "Unlike the tracks in Zone 1 there are no pits under the rails. So if someone is struck they will not fall into the hole but remain on the track and take the full force of the train."

Employees at nearby businesses were in shock at the news. A shop worker said: "I knew something was wrong because I saw all the ambulances and police, but nobody would say what had happened. It's really terrible."

An inquest will be opened later this week at West London Coroner's Court.