Sir Robert Malpas, 90, was left strewn beneath the tracks as a train hurtled into Marble Arch on 27 April, the Old Bailey heard.
He was saved by heroic French national Riyad El Hussani, 24, who burned his hand on the electrified track as he hauled Sir Robert up to safety.
Paul Crossley, 46, wearing a white baseball cap pulled low over his face, had tried to shove Tobias French, onto the tracks at Tottenham Court Road, jurors heard.
“Mr French stumbled forward slightly but was able to remain standing,” said prosecutor Benjamin Aina, QC.
“He started to turn to face his attacker and felt another push to his upper body pushing him towards the tracks again.”
Crossley walked away briskly and boarded the arriving train, but just before the doors closed he slipped away and crossed to the westbound Central line platform, the court heard.
During his journey to Marble Arch he pulled his hood over his hat in “an attempt to disguise himself” and on arrival crossed over to the eastbound platform.
“The second member of the public was a 90-year-old man who was walking along the train platform at Marble Arch train station,”said the prosecutor.
“As he walked along the defendant pushed this man onto the train tracks. He suffered a fractured pelvis and nasty wound to his head which required 12 stitches.”
Sir Robert was left lying in the pit below the electrified track with blood flowing from his head and struggling to get up.
The board signalled one minute until the next train.
“Mr El Hussani bravely left where he stood,and ran down the platform and then jumped down onto the tracks,” said Mr Aina.
“As he landed he threw his hand forward to stop himself falling and he briefly touched the electrified track causing a burn to his right hand.
“Mr El Hussani pulled Sir Robert to the edge of the platform where he was assisted by other members of the public who pulled Sir Robert back up onto the platform where first aid was administered”
Crossley was chased along the walkway between the platforms and held by two men, Robert Thomas and John Lowman.
He shrieked, “It's not right, I know it's wrong” and when arrested told officers “I didn't get much sleep last night”.
In police interview the following day he was asked whether there was any reason and he replied again: 'I had no sleep.'
Sir Robert, a retired engineer knighted in the Queen's birthday honours, was rushed to hospital where he received treatment for the nasty gash to his head, bruising on his face and fractured pelvis.
He was chairman of chemicals giant ICI and materials technology group Cookson.
Sir Robert, who also worked on the Engineering Council, lives in Wandsworth, Southwest London, with wife Lady Joan.
He had been attending an ICI pensioners' reunion in Marble Arch on the night of the incident.
Crossley, of Leyton High Road, Leyton, east London, denies two counts of attempted murder and two lesser alternatives of wounding Sir Robert with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He also denies attempting to cause GBH to Mr French.
The trial continues.
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