Rail passengers trying to get to Bournemouth and beyond by train faced chaos earlier today. 

Emergency engineering works at Brockenhurst meant there was no service from Southampton Central to Bournemouth. Network Rail said the lines were blocked and that there was an electrical fault.

Lines were closed from 8.30am for more than four hours to allow emergency engineering works to take place. 

A limited bus service was running from Southampton Airport Parkway to Brockenhurst, with a shuttle train running a circular route from Brockenhurst to Weymouth and back.

Brockenhurst College students were affected by the delays as some had A-level exams today. 

GiGi Chen said she was trying to get to an exam and was worried she wasn't going to make it.

Natasha Maceaganmire, 18, said she was going to be late for her government and politics exam today. "I'm not happy but it happens," she added. 

Jan Stevens, from Bournemouth, said: "I'm meant to be picking up my granddaughter in Birmingham this afternoon and taking her to a gym lesson and I don't think I'm going to get there now."

And Valerie Omera said she was trying to get home to Birmingham but couldn't: "It's very frustrating."

Elisa Jones, from Bournemouth, said it was her birthday today and she was planning to go to London. She said: "It's a nightmare, this is just ridiculous. We're going to go home and drive up now because it will be quicker."

Trains that usually run between London Waterloo and Weymouth / Poole terminated at Southampton Central / Eastleigh.

Bournemouth Echo:

One train did run between Brockenurst and Bournemouth and buses were requested. 

Buses were to run between Southampton Central and Brockenhurst / Bournemouth, but National Rail says there is no estimate as to when they will be available.

CrossCountry services started / terminated at Southampton Central.

As an alternative, South West Trains passengers could use Southern services between Southampton Central and London via Barnham.

South West Trains between London Waterloo and Weymouth and CrossCountry services between Manchester Piccadilly and Bournemouth were affected. 

Some passengers arriving at Bournemouth from Brockenhurst said it had taken them over an hour longer to complete their journey.

Janet Jackson, 69, and Mary Drury, 80, from Winchester have come to Bournemouth for a day at the beach.

Mrs Jackson said: "It's taken us an hour and ten minutes longer to get to Bournemouth from Winchester.

"It's really quite tedious and there have been no clear instructions about where replacement buses are going."

Melina Vinci, who had been travelling from London, said: "I was one of the lucky ones as I managed to get on the first carriage of the train leaving Brockenhurst, but I know other passengers had to wait longer.

"It's just a hassle, though," she added.

And Brenda Brown from Fleet said although the delays had been a "nuisance", train staff and replacement bus drivers had been "kind and helpful".

South West Trains tweeted all lines were re-opened around 1pm but delays are still possible as services recover.