A man accused of pushing a rail passenger off a platform at Farningham Road station and on to a train track is expected to stand trial in September.

Ionel Rapisca, of Joyce Green Lane, Dartford, denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Linda Buchanan on August 6 last year.

The 31-year-old has also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Mother-of-three Miss Buchanan, 58, suffered a broken wrist and bruises during the incident in which she narrowly missed the 750-volt live rail.

Rapisca, who is on bail, did not have to attend the brief hearing today at Maidstone Crown Court to fix his trial date.

The case is expected to last three to four days. Judge Jeremy Carey ordered that it be entered into a court warned list beginning September 7.