TWENTY five years after a young woman was stabbed to death on a train between Petts Wood to Victoria, detectives are renewing their appeals to try and catch her killer.

Debbie Linsley boarded the 14:16 Orpington to Victoria train on March 23, 1988, at Petts Wood station, and entered an old fashioned compartment with room for six people and doors at each side of the carriage.

Somewhere on the journey between Petts Wood and Victoria, the 26-year-old senior hotel receptionist was stabbed at least five times.

News Shopper: Do you know who killed Debbie Linsley on March 23, 1988

The train arrived at platform two at Victoria Station and at around 2.50pm, when British Rail staff were checking for any passengers, Miss Linsley’s body was discovered on the floor surrounded by blood.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the heart.

She had been to visit her parents and brother Gordon in preparation for his wedding a few weeks later.

Miss Linsley was originally from Bromley and was working as a hotel manager in Edinburgh.

An 18-year-old French au pair who was travelling in another compartment of the train revealed she heard screaming onboard the train after it left Brixton.

Her attacker was injured during the attack and left samples of his blood at the scene.

Detectives are currently looking at state of the art DNA techniques to try and identify the killer 25 years on from the murder.

The murder weapon was believed to have been a heavily bladed knife with a length between five and seven and a half inches. It has not been recovered.

A huge manhunt was launched but no-one has ever been arrested in connection with the investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Burgess, Head of Specialist Crime Review Group, said: “Twenty five years on from the murder of Debbie Linsley, an innocent woman on a train in broad daylight, we are still hopeful that the murderer can be caught.

"The passage of time has not diminished the shocking nature of this crime; it has just made it harder to bear for her loved ones, when justice has not been achieved.

"We still believe there are people out there with information that could be vital to a breakthrough in the case.

"I would urge those people to call us. I can assure them that they will be dealt with sensitively."

News Shopper: Police have a full DNA profile of Miss Linsley's killer but he is not on the DNA database

And Debbie's father, Arthur Linsley, said: "When Debbie was murdered the senior investigating officer described the attack as savage and brutal.

“She was stabbed at least five times and because of the severity of the attack he was of the opinion that it was unlikely that this was the culprit's first violent offence.

"Debbie had deep defence wounds on her hands but despite this she injured him during the struggle.

"As a result of this a full DNA profile has subsequently been obtained of the attacker.

“So here we have a probable repeat violent offender and we have his full DNA profile but he is not on the DNA database.

“I find that very puzzling.

"There must be a partner, relative or friend out there who knows of someone who returned home with an unexplained injury and we are appealing for that person or persons to come forward.

“After all we only need one phone call if it is the right one."

Detectives are offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest, charge and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for the murder.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 020 7230 3893 and 020 7230 0992 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.