The Tube relationship. A flirtatious glance here, a half-smile there, and it's all over within three stops. He or she gets off at Kentish Town without even looking back as the train speeds away.

It needn't have to end this way, at least according to a survey by Yahoo! Personals. Apparently, 39 per cent of commuters are single, two out of three commuters fancy someone they see on their journey and one in four convert this into a date.

The District Line is the most popular route for romance, with 48 per cent of users having been asked out while travelling on it. The Northern Line falls some way behind with 23 per cent.

If proof is needed that romance on the Tube is possible, we only need to look to Marc Sosnow, 30, and Naomi Caplin, 26, from Hendon, who met on the platform on Bank station and are now planning to get married.

"Put on your bravest smile and go for it," Marc advises all commuting Casanovas. "If you miss the opportunity, you may always regret it."