BRITISH police are today investigating if three suspected graffiti artists were killed by a freight train hours before their bodies were found on the tracks.

According to The Sun, the bodies of the three men, aged in their 20s, were found near Loughborough Station, South London — a known graffiti hotspot.

Police are now investigating whether the men had been sneaking onto the tracks in the middle of the night, with spray cans having been found near the bodies.

Investigating officers were also seen taking photos of graffiti at the tracks — probing the street art as a possible “line of inquiry” into the “unexplained” deaths.

The investigation comes as fears mount the men could have been killed by a freight train in the early hours of this morning, found hours later at 7.30am (4.30pm AEST).

British Transport Police has not confirmed if the group were graffiti artists, but Superintendent Matt Allingham, BTP, said: “The bodies were discovered by a train driver.

“We know that they were dead for a while before we turned up.

“It was a possibility that it was during the hours of darkness — that’s why it wasn’t reported early on.

“We are still trying to identify the train that hit the individuals.”

He added the layout of the tracks meant there wouldn’t have been anywhere for them to go if a train came.

He said “If someone was on those tracks there’s nowhere they could go to avoid the train.

“They wouldn’t have had much options.”

Supt Matt Allingham earlier said: “We are aware that there are a number of speculative comments about this [the group being graffiti artists] on social media, but it is too early for us to comment on their reasons for being on the track.”

Police are also trying to figure out which train could have hit the men, with the track busy with rush hour trains and freight train convoys.

Police are now in the process of formally identifying the victims, with the family of one of the men already told the tragic news.

Speaking this afternoon, Supt Allingham said: “Officers have delivered the sad news to one family that we believe one of the men was their son. We are still working to identify and locate the next of kin for the other two men.

“While investigations continue, our focus is on supporting those bereaved families at this difficult time and gathering as much evidence as we can.”

Supt Allingham asked for anyone who knew the men to come forward to help them with their inquiries.