A student who died when he fell onto a live rail while walking along the track was named today.

Nicholas James, 18, was pulled off the line by his friend who tried in vain to resuscitate him.

The student, studying design and technology at Brighton University was from Leicestershire and was living in halls of residence at Falmer.

He had been out with his 19-year-old friend in Brighton.

Both had been drinking and were feeling unwell as they travelled home in a taxi from West Street, Brighton, in the early hours of Friday.

They stopped at Moulsecoomb railway station, Lewes Road, Brighton, and decided to walk the rest of the way home along the rail track.

The 19-year-old friend used a mobile phone to call emergency services shortly after 2am.

Police and paramedics went to the scene between Moulsecoomb and Falmer stations and continued efforts to revive the student. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. An inquest will be held.

The victim's friend, from Suffolk, was said to be deeply distressed and was being comforted.

This was the fifteenth death on Sussex railway lines this year, three times the normal annual figure.

British Transport Police are concerned by the steep rise and appealed to people to treat railways with more respect and caution.

Sergeant Jack Ioannou, based at Brighton railway station, said: "This morning's accident was tragic and a terrible waste of a young life. Our thoughts are with the student's family and friends.

"There were no suspicious circumstances but out investigations are continuing."

Mr Ioannou said there were normally five or six deaths on Sussex railway lines each year but the total this year had already reached 15.

Some were suicides or falls but, Mr Ioannou said: "Many deaths involving young people are drink-related."

He referred to the death of an 18-year-old following the Lewes bonfire celebrations on November 5.

The teenager died instantly after he climbed through the window of a moving train on to its roof just before it went under a bridge between Plumpton and Cooksbridge, Lewes.

Mr Ioannou said: "We would appeal to people to make sure they are fit to travel or to go onto the railway system.

"It can be a very dangerous environment and people have to act responsibly.

"Unfortunately, not everyone does and the loss of life is devastating, especially for brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers and friends they leave.

"It is also traumatic for communities. Many people in the Plumpton area were deeply shocked by the tragedy there.

"We would appeal to people to take extra care and not mix alcohol with travelling on the railways."