We travelled in a tiny single red open Victorian train carriage. It was obvious that the modern station was not designed to welcome such an old-fashioned form of transport: there was a huge gap between the open carriage door and the platform. Nevertheless, I leapt out with my luggage all intact, hoping that the others would follow.

My sudden movement thrust the carriage forward with the rest of the passengers still on board, including TPR. It careered along the track at high speed straight into, then through, three stationary modern carriages.

‘Nobody could survive that impact’ I thought as all the passengers – TPR included – walked free of the wreckage.

Later, in the huge station lift, witnesses to the accident discussed its cause.

‘China is to blame’ claimed one. This was a bold move given that half the people in the lift at the time were Chinese.