A PERSON has died after being hit by a train on Friday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the railway line around 12.40pm, but the person was pronounced dead at the scene.

British Transport Police said the death at Hamworthy, near Poole, was not believed to be suspicious.

All South West Trains services heading towards Weymouth from Southampton were terminated and started from Bournemouth.

Replacement bus services and taxis were sent to the affected railway stations, but hundreds of passengers faced lengthy waits.

A witness said a train came to a halt around 200m outside of Hamworthy station. There were five police cars and an ambulance at the scene.

As a result power to the lines was switched off and trains in the area came to a standstill for more than five hours.

The railway line was re-opened just after 5pm.