Major West Sussex rail delays after person hit by a train

Southern Rail reported the incident at 2.15pm.

A social media statement read: “It is with great sadness that we report a person has been hit by a train between Chichester and Havant.

"All lines are blocked between these stations whilst the emergency services work to deal with this incident.”

The incident affected services that run between London Victoria to Portsmouth and trains from Brighton to Southampton Central and Portsmouth & Southsea.

Trains between Brighton and Southampton were suspended but services between Brighton and Chichester, via Littlehampton, were able to run as advertised.

Services between Brighton and Portsmouth and Southsea ran between Brighton and Chichester only.

Trains to London Victoria and Portsmouth were diverted after Barnham into Bognor Regis, and started back towards London Victoria from there.

The shuttle service between Brighton and Hove was suspended.

A spokesperson for Southern added: "You will need an alternative route to complete your journey this afternoon and this will take you longer then usual."

In an update at 3.40pm, the train company reported that the line had been reopened and power restored to lines in the area.

“Please allow an additional 30 minutes if using a travel alternative to complete your journey,” the spokesperson added.

"Delays and amendments to services in the area are expected to continue whilst we recover the service timetable.”

In an update at 4.45pm, Southern Rail said: “We recommend you check journey planners prior to travelling as delays to services are still ongoing.

"If your planned train is cancelled then you'll need to take an earlier or later train instead, or use an alternative route.

“Ticket acceptance remains in place on alternative bus and rail services to help to complete your journey.”

Shortly after 6pm, Southern said ticket acceptance had been stood down on Stagecoach bus services as ‘delays to trains have eased’.

Passengers have been recommend to still allow additional time to complete your journey, as services ‘aren't expected to fully recover until later tonight’.

National Rail said teams worked with the emergency services to deal with this incident as ‘sensitively, quickly and safely as possible’.

A spokesperson added: “We work closely with the Samaritans and support the work that they do. If you or someone close to you has been affected by this incident, there is always someone to talk to. Contact the Samaritans on 116 123 for free at any time, on any phone. Help is only a phone call away.”