VANDALS have put lives at risk and shut one of the Hampshire's main railway routes.
A section of the line was shut this morning after a train struck a metal object left on the line between Hamble and Netley.
The incident caused chaos with disruptions and delays to services operating between Southampton Central and Fareham and across the region.
South West Trains investigated the collision which caused damage to equipment underneath the train and resulted in it breaking down.
It caused delays of nearly an hour as trains between Southampton Central and Portsmouth and Southsea were cancelled in both directions.
Southern services between Brighton and Southampton Central and its Southampton to Horsham services started and terminated at Fareham.
First Great Western services from Westbury to Portsmouth Harbour were diverted via Eastleigh.
Rail replacement buses were running between Fareham and Southampton Central calling at all stations via Netley.
The line reopened by 9.40am.
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