AROUND 100 rail passengers were left stunned last night when their train failed to stop at Christchurch because their driver ‘wasn’t concentrating’.

Councillor Claire Bath was just one of the many rail users who couldn’t get off at the stop at 5pm.

She said: “There was the usual announcement that the train was about to stop at Christchurch but when we approached the station, the train just went straight past.

“The guard then made an announcement, apologising that ‘due to a lack of concentration’, the train didn’t stop and that ‘these things happen’.

“I didn’t think it was very professional. There were about a hundred people, mainly students from Brockenhurst College, needing to get off at Christchurch. Not to mention, the people waiting at the station to board the train.”

A spokeswoman for South West Trains said: “We would like to apologise to customers on the 15.05 service from London Waterloo to Weymouth this afternoon.

“As a result of human error, the train did not stop at Christchurch Station as planned.

“Passengers were instead able to alight at Pokesdown and travel back to Christchurch on a service shortly afterwards, but we appreciate the inconvenience this will have caused some customers and we are very sorry for that.”

The spokesperson added that customers would have had to wait no more than 10 minutes for the next service.