A MUM died after stepping in front of a train following the breakdown of her marriage.

Talented singer Joanne Toshack, 43, was killed when she was struck by a train near Standedge Tunnel, Marsden, in the early hours of New Year’s Eve – the second time the same driver had been involved in a death on the line in less than a year.

At a Huddersfield inquest into her death yesterday it was revealed that Mrs Toshack, who was also a grandmother, had been devastated by the collapse of her relationship.

She had recently returned to her home in the village after spending some time living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Mrs Toshack was a singer with a choir there and during her time living in the UK helped record a CD in tribute to British soldiers killed in Iraq.

The health worker died instantly when she was hit by the early morning TransPennine train which was on its way to Manchester Airport.

Mrs Toshack was born in Borneo but left the country as a child to be brought up in the UK.

She married John Toshack in 1997 – and the couple had two children from previous marriages.

The family lived at Deer Hill Close in Marsden and Mrs Toshack worked as a medical records manager.

Mrs Toshack went to live in Kuala Lumpur with her husband when he was offered a job there two years ago.

But they returned to the UK late last year when Mr Toshack’s grandfather fell ill.

It was while they were back home that the couple decided to split up and Mr Toshack flew back to Kuala Lumpur while Mrs Toshack remained living in the family home.

The couple agreed to remain friends and keep involved with family life, but Mrs Toshack found the break-up difficult to accept.

After returning to Kuala Lumpur, Mr Toshack was contacted by family members worried that they were unable to reach her.

He was unable to get in touch with her and later on December 31 received a call to say that she had died.

He then flew home to be with his family.

He said in a statement: “The family and I are totally devastated as to what’s happened.

“She didn’t indicate at any time that she intended to cause herself harm. She appeared to be coping well with her emotions.”

Train driver Peter Sculley described his horror at hitting the mum – less than a year after another person was killed on the train tracks during his shift.

He had been driving the 4am York to Manchester Airport train which left Huddersfield on time at 5.28am.

But shortly afterwards he spotted a woman standing near to the entrance of Standedge Tunnel with her back to the train.

He said in a statement: “I slammed the brakes on and sounded the horn, but I had no chance of stopping in time.

“She didn’t move or turn around. As the train struck her I thought ‘oh no, not again’ as this was the second time this had happened to me in a year.”

The train came to a standstill inside the tunnel and the emergency services were contacted.

A post-mortem examination showed that Mrs Toshack died from massive chest trauma.

Coroner Roger Whittaker said Mrs Toshack had left some messages on Facebook indicating that she intended to harm herself.

Recording a verdict of suicide, he said he was satisfied that she intended to take her own life.

Mrs Toshack had been a member of the choir Sing Live Northern and performed in a number of fundraising concerts.

In 2007 she helped record a CD as a tribute to those who lost their lives at war.

Her son Andy had served in Iraq with the Royal Artillery and lost friends there.

Members of the Cantus Musicus international chamber choir, which Mrs Toshack was a member of, performed at her memorial service in Kuala Lumpur in January.