A MAN was killed after being struck by a Weymouth-Waterloo train as it passed through a New Forest railway station earlier this afternoon.

Emergency services were on the scene at Ashurst New Forest railway station after the incident took place at about 2.50pm.

A spokesman for Network Rail said a driver of the 1.20pm train from Weymouth to London Waterloo, which wasn't stopping at the station, reported striking the man as it travelled through the station.

A British Transport Police spokeswoman said: “Our officers attended the line close to Ashurst New Forest rail station at on Thursday, 23 April following a report that a man had been hit by a train.

“Colleagues from Hampshire Constabulary also attended the incident, which was reported to BTP at 2.53pm and is not being treated as suspicious.

“Medics from South Central Ambulance Service pronounced the man dead at the scene.

“Officers are currently working to establish the identity of the man, and inform his family.

“A file will be prepared for the coroner.”

Lines reopened around 4.30pm.

A spokesman for South West Trains said: “There won’t be any replacement bus services as the lines will reopen sooner than we expected.”

Commuters can expect delays of up to an hour and services should return to normal at around 6pm.

South Central Ambulance Service were called to the scene and sent an ambulance officer, a rapid response vehicle, a hazardous area response team and an ambulance crew to the scene.

A spokesman for the service said: "They were on the scene but was evident that the person was sadly deceased at the scene."

The routes affected are the Crosscountry line between Manchester Piccadilly and Bournemouth and the South West Trains line between London Waterloo and Weymouth.

Anyone intending to travel is advised to seek alternative routes for travel.

Services from London Waterloo to Weymouth will be terminated at Southampton Central and start back from there.

Services from Weymouth will terminate at Bournemouth and return to Weymouth from there.

Where possible, trains will operate between Bournemouth and Brockenhurst and passengers are advised to speak to station staff or use a Help Point for onward travel options.

Cross Country, First Great Western and Southern Railway services are accepting passengers’ tickets via any reasonable route while arrangements have been made for South West Trains rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.