PASSENGERS were lucky to escape serious injury after a fridge-freezer was hurled onto the railway line from a pedestrian footbridge in Bournemouth, it has emerged.

The driver of the London Waterloo to Poole service spotted the refrigerator but was unable to stop before smashing into it on Wednesday night, causing damage to the front of his train.

British Transport Police (BTP), who describe the incident as a “totally reckless act that risked the safety of passengers and rail staff”, have launched an investigation into the incident.

Officers were called to the collision, below the railway footbridge at the corner of Palmerston Road and St Clement’s Road, around 11.30pm. They say the train struck the refrigerator between 11-11.30pm.

Sergeant Elwyn Jones, of BTP Bournemouth said: "We believe the object was thrown onto the line from the Palmerston Road footbridge. This would have been no easy task and would have taken two or three strong individuals to lift it over the shoulder-height railings.

“I want to hear from anyone who was in that area on Wednesday evening and saw anyone acting suspiciously. This was a totally reckless act that endangered the safety of rail passengers and staff and we are doing all we can to catch those responsible.”

The fridge exploded on impact and caused superficial damage to the front of the train. Once the line was cleared the train was able to move off, but the drama caused delays throughout the evening.

South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance mainline area manager Jason Murphy said: “The safety of our passengers and staff is always our absolute priority and we are working closely with British Transport Police to find out who did this.”

BTP are working to reduce crime-related disturbances on the rail network by 20 per cent by 2019.

Sergeant Jones confirmed: “As the 9.05pm London Waterloo to Poole service approached the Palmerston Road footbridge, the driver noticed an object on the line but was unable to stop in time. The train struck the object and came to a stop further down the line “Network Rail staff and BTP officers attended the scene and discovered the train had hit a domestic fridge-freezer.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting reference S/B10 of 23/04/2015.