AN ELDERLY woman was rushed to Poole Hospital yesterday morning after being hit by a speeding cross-country train.

The incident happened at 8.53am as the 8.45am Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly cross-country service travelled through Pokesdown railway station.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman told the Echo last yesterday: “BTP officers were called to Pokesdown rail station following a report of a woman receiving a glancing blow from a train.

“The incident is currently being treated as non-suspicious. Paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Service also attended and the woman, a 76-year-old from Boscombe, was taken to Poole General Hospital with head injuries.

“She currently remains in hospital in a stable condition.”

Investigations are continuing into the incident.

A spokesman from Network Rail said the power was isolated between Hinton Admiral and Branksome stations and a number of trains were delayed while the incident was dealt with.

The lines were reopened shortly before 10am.

A spokesman from South West Trains said normal service was resumed by 11.15am and there were varying delays on a number of their services.

“While there were initial long delays following the incident we were able to recover well.”