A BANKER took his own life by jumping in front of a speeding train, an inquest heard.

Amit Badiani, 34, of Thame, died on January 30 when a train travelling at 100mph through Haddenham and Thame Parkway Railway Station struck him.

A jury returned a verdict of suicide but Buckinghamshire Coroner Richard Hulett voiced concerns over high speed trains travelling through stations and said he hoped Chiltern Railways might reconsider its practice.

At the inquest, held at Aylesbury Magistrates Court on Friday, train driver Lee Harper broke down as he described what happened on the day and coroner's clerk James Durrant had to read Mr Harper's statement.

Mr Harper was a trainee driver at the time and has now completed his course and is a fully qualified.

On January 30, he was driving the 6.30am Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone express train, with his instructor Michael Kelly. At around 7.45am the train approached the station at Haddenham at 100mph.

Mr Harper then said: "Look Mick," to his instructor as a man started towards the edge of the platform. Mr Kelly said he saw the incident but both men in the cab were powerless to stop the train in time.

A jury member asked Mr Kelly whether he thought Mr Badiani, who was single, had jumped or had fallen from the platform.

Mr Kelly said: "He just walked slowly across with his hands in his pockets. He just jumped."

A number of people were in the station at the time but no one actually saw the moment where Mr Badiani was hit by the train.

Home Office pathologist Dr Andrew Tudway told the inquest Mr Badiani died instantly from the collision and died of massive injuries.

But no clue was given as to why Mr Badiani chose to end his life.

The jury heard John Matheson, Mr Badiani's manager at the Bank of England, describe Mr Badiani as an excellent worker who had just completed a successful project.

Vinodray Badiani, Amit's father, told the inquest that his son had visited his family the weekend before and seemed to have no problems. Mr Badiani had attended an office party on the Monday night and phoned his sister afterwards.

The jury returned a verdict of suicide and Coroner Richard Hulett said: "Mr Badiani had a great deal going for him. It seems a dreadful waste of a life."

He said he was concerned about high speed trains travelling through stations. He had heard evidence that horns were not always sounded and announcements to stand well back not always made.