A person being hit by a train in what a rail operator described as a 'tragic incident' sparked a major emergency response.

Neighbours reacted with shock at seeing police cars, ambulances, and fire engines outside Swaythling railway station at around 9pm on Saturday night.

The area was a hive of activity as paramedics, police officers and firefighters spoke with railway staff.

Lines between Southampton Central and Eastleigh were shut while emergency services responded, affecting trains for the rest of the day as far as Fareham.

READ MORE: Man dies in emergency incident in Wimpson Lane, Millbrook

At 11.47pm on Saturday, Southern Rail said on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Disruption caused by this tragic incident has now ended and services on this route have finished for the night."

They also signposted people who may have been affected by what happened to the Samaritans charity.

British Transport Police, who were taking the lead on the emergency response, have not yet confirmed what happened to the person who was hit.

One Southampton resident, John Borg, who lives near Swaythling station, became worried after hearing emergency sirens. 

After seeing someone else mention the commotion on Facebook, he walked down to the station to see what was happening.

John told the Echo: "I knew that something serious had happened due to the number of emergency vehicles that were at the scene.

"There were at least three fire engines, three police cars and a traffic police vehicle.

"I think that there were also some rail staff in attendance who were assisting the emergency responders.

"Also at the scene was at least two ambulances.

"My thoughts are with those affected."

Another Swaythling resident, who wanted to remain unnamed, said that he was walking across the railway bridge just after the incident took place on his way back from the shop.

He said: “I must have been one of the first people at the scene.

“I could see that the train had stopped and there was a member of staff hanging out the back of the train talking about what happened.

“It was so surreal and sad more than anything else.

“I returned back to my home to drop off my shopping and just a few minutes later the road was flooded with blue and red lights."