A SELFLESS train driver has been lauded as a hero after risking his own safety to rescue a woman on the tracks.

The courageous driver was at the controls of a train from London Bridge to Brighton when he spotted the woman lingering in the darkness on the track in front of him.

Just as he was pulling into Burgess Hill Station, he slammed on the brakes and put out a call to stop other trains.

He then jumped from his cab and carefully negotiated the 750 volt tracks before reaching the distressed 28-year-old.

He took her back to the train, before driving her – and the rest of his passengers – to their destination, Brighton, where she was taken into the care of paramedics.

The heroic turn of events played out on Thursday evening shortly before 10pm.

Train passenger Nigel Webster took to Twitter to praise the driver.

He said: “Well done to the train driver ... who managed to get someone off the tracks and into safe arms.”

Chris Denham, a spokesman for Network Rail, explained that all drivers are trained to work around the track’s live current of 750 volts DC.

He said: “The driver did very well – he was really on the ball.

“He was just bringing his train into Burgess Hill when he spotted the woman and stopped short. He then put out an emergency call to all trains and the signal centre and got both lines blocked so he could help her from the railway and to safety.”

He added that the communication technology on trains – GSMR (Global System for Mobile Railway) – allows an emergency stop call to be made to all trains in the area, using cells such as conventional mobile networks, when something like this happens.

A Southern Railway spokesman said: “We applaud the actions of our driver on Thursday night.

“He acted swiftly and safely with understanding and compassion towards the person before leading her to safety – and ultimately into the hands of those who could care for her when the train reached Brighton Station.”

Once at the station, British Transport Police officers and paramedics took over.

A British Transport Police spokesman added: “We were informed a woman had been trespassing on the track at Burgess Hill.

“Our officers met her at Brighton Station. She was taken to hospital for assessment under the Mental Health Act.”

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