AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a man was killed when he was struck by a train at a Hampshire station.

Police were last night trying to establish the identity of the man who was killed instantly when he was hit by the train at Ashurst railway station.

Emergency services were called to the scene yesterday afternoon after reports that a man had been struck by a high-speed South West Trains service.

Rail services came to halt throughout Hampshire as a result.

Daily Echo:

The train had been heading towards London Waterloo as the 1.20pm service from Weymouth.

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

A spokesman said: “They were on the scene but it was evident that the person was sadly deceased.”

A British Transport Police spokeswoman said that the circumstances would be investigated by the coroner, but that officers were working to establish who the man was.

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

“A file will be prepared for the coroner.”

Officers guarded the entrance to the station, stopping passengers entering the site, before lines eventually reopened at 4.30pm.

However, delays continued through to rush hour.

Replacement buses were in short supply, as most coaches in the area were booked for school use.

One jogger who was hoping to cross the railway bridge said: “From what I’ve heard it was horrific. It’s really sad and I hope the train driver is OK.”

A father-of-two, who didn’t want to be named, was waiting to pick up his two daughters, who were delayed on a train from Brockenhurst.

He said: “It’s very worrying for something this awful to happen in a remote area. I really feel for the train driver. He’ll never be able to forget this. My thoughts are with the family.”

A mum-of-two from Ashurst, who was visiting The New Forest pub, next to the station, said: “It's just horrible and so sad.

“You hear about this happening a lot but not normally around where you live.”