Prologue

Mind the gap.

The station platform is full; commuters huddled inside bulky quilted coats and muffled in scarves, clutching briefcases and handbags tightly to their bodies to keep out the cold, damp, air.

Their tired, pinched faces are turned towards the tracks for the tell-tale sign of an approaching train; willing it to arrive so they can begin their morning commute.

The digital sign blinks and a gush of wind blows through the station as a train approaches.

The crowd surge forward as one and the mechanical clank of the train is heard as it slows down on entering the station, the crowd mentally readies itself for the jostling for a seat before the train has even stopped.

Mind the gap.

A moment of confusion; a muffled cry is heard as the train screeches to a shuddering halt and the doors open with a whoosh. The swell of people flows onto the train through the open doors but further up the platform the crowd are hanging back and an unnatural stillness has settled over them. At the front of the train the driver’s cab door is flung open and he clambers onto the platform and stands immobile on shaky legs, both hands held over his face.

The sound of a woman’s shrill scream rings out and a man’s voice commands hoarsely, ‘Someone call an ambulance!’

The crowd shuffle, uncertain what to do. They nudge back as the heavy thump of feet is heard when three uniformed figures thunder down the platform.

And then a shriek of horror from a woman as she approaches the stricken train driver to offer assistance. She stands clutching her hand to her mouth as she looks down onto the tracks in front of the train.

‘Someone’s jumped! Oh my God, someone’s jumped!’