A MAN died after being hit by a train at Branksome on Thursday morning.

Police were called to Branksome rail station shortly after 5.50am to reports a person had been struck by a train. Paramedics attended but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: “BTP officers alongside colleagues from Dorset Police and paramedics from South Western Ambulance Service attended the scene, but sadly a man was pronounced dead.

"The incident is currently not being treated as suspicious. Officers will now work to identify and inform the man’s family and prepare a file for the coroner."

Rail services were disrupted as a result with trains unable to stop at Branksome and lines closed between Bournemouth and Poole. There were delays of up to 20 minutes between Weymouth and Bournemouth until around midday.

A train shuttle service was running between Weymouth and Wareham, while replacement buses were requested to run between Wareham and Bournemouth.

Passengers were also able to use CrossCountry services between Bournemouth and Basingstoke.

Traffic on the A35 Poole Road was also reported to be slow due to the incident.

A spokesperson for South West Trains said: "Services between Weymouth and Bournemouth were disrupted this morning after a person was struck by a train. Our first thoughts are with the family of the person involved.

"Services returned to normal around lunchtime. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused to passengers."

Dozens of commuters arriving at the train station were forced to make alternative travel arrangements. Police officers were arranging taxis to take some members of the public to Bournemouth Station.

Becci Critchett, who was trying to get to Southampton, said: “I always find it really sad when this happens. People moan about the inconvenience but I’m just thinking about the family and what they’re going through.

“The disruption is a minor thing in this."

Three other people died this year after being hit by a train. An 18-year-old man from Christchurch was killed in February after he was hit by a train at a railway crossing in Totton. Another man died later that month after being struck by a train in Christchurch.

And an investigation was launched after a man was killed when he was hit by a train at Ashurst, New Forest station in April.