A TRAIN has derailed coming out of Eastleigh station, it has been revealed.

The incident coming out of the station is expected to cause major disruption to train services across the region.

A woman working opposite the station said a container appeared to have come off a Freightliner train on the southern side of the station, near the Swan Centre.

"The whole building shook for ten seconds - we didn't know what had happened.

"A lot of rail workers are hovering around the area.

"There wasn't too much noise - just a rumble and a shudder. Someone looked out of the window and said a container had come off a train."  

Daily Echo:

Ex rail worker Derik Everson, 73, said: " I was walking on the road outside the station and saw that as it pulled away from the station normally and all of a sudden it started to come off the track.

"Three wagons derailed, the sound was horrendous and there was lots of smoke.

"The driver did well to stop and control it but now so many trains are cancelled because the lines are closed. Someone told me the train hit the electrical rail and it jumped up but I don't know if that's true."

Another resident who didn't want to be named added: "I thought it was a massive problem with the train it was really loud and there was tonnes of smoke."

A tweet from Network Rail Wessex said the incident would affect services between London Waterloo, Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth.

British Transport Police are also on the scene.

A spokesman saiid that no one had been injured in the incident.

But he added: "Disruption likely for rest of the day. Avoid the area if possible."

The tweet said: "We've had a report of a freight train derailing at Eastleigh.

"One of our local managers will be attending the scene, and there will be more info when we receive it.

"The train derailed coming out of Eastleigh station and is likely to affect services between London Waterloo and Southampton and Weymouth."

National Rail says it is investigating a "problem" at Eastleigh.

In a tweet, National Rail said: "A problem currently under investigation at Eastleigh is causing disruption to journeys through the station.

"Services may be cancelled, delayed or revised."

South Western Railway say the franchise has arranged replacement road transport to convey passengers between Basingstoke and Southampton Central.

A Network Rail spokesman described the incident as a "low speed" derailment which involved about three wagons.

The spokesman said there were no reports of any injuries.

A South Western Railway spokesman said disruption was likely to continue until the end of the day but unable to give a precise time.

More to follow...