PASSENGERS were affected by delays in the Southampton area this morning after a woman fell near a railway line and was injured.

Emergency services were called to Golden Grove in St Mary's after reports of a woman falling from a “small wall” next to the freight railway line embankment at about 6.45pm.

The railway line, which serves the Port of Southampton, was shut down last night while paramedics attempted to rescue the woman from the line.

Paramedics were only able to get access to her an hour later and she was eventually taken to Southampton General Hospital with a possible head injury.

The line was reopened at about 9.10pm but because freight trains were unable to continue their journey until this morning, rail passengers experienced delays.

A spokesperson for the South West Trains Network Rail Alliance apologised for the delay and said: “A trespasser was discovered near to the track at Northam Bridge.

"A number of train operators were affected and delays of about 30 minutes were experienced.”