LOCAL emergency services were involved in a spectacular rescue on Tuesday night after a man fell from a moving train travelling to Alton Station.

The alarm was raised at around 8-45 pm when the 19-03 train from Waterloo to Alton pulled into Alton Station with one of the slam-doors open.

When the guard investigated the situation, he found that the manÕs luggage was still on board the train, but there was no sign of the man himself.

An empty train was sent back down the line at low speed to search for the man, who was located around three-quarters of a mile north of Alton Station, around 200 yards from the Holybourne road bridge near EggarÕs School.

Another train was then dispatched with members of the emergency services on board, as an ambulance could not get access to the trackside.

The casualty had suspected spinal injuries, and so was put on a spine board and transported to the bottom of the bridge. An aerial ladder platform called in from Basingstoke by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, was then placed on top of the road bridge. This appliance lifted the casualty from the trackside to the top of the bridge, from where he was taken to Frimley Park Hospital.

The man, who has not yet been identified by the British Transport Police, is believed to be from the Bath area. He has confirmed spinal injuries, a broken arm and lacerations to his face, and his condition has been described as serious but not life threatening.

Inspector Jim Little of the British Transport Police, said: ÒIt is unclear exactly what happened to cause the man to fall, but we believe that he was the only person in the carriage at that time and we are not treating the incident as suspicious.Ó

Keith Hawkins from South West Trains said: ÒWe are working closely with the British Transport Police in investigating the incident, and we are also conducting our own investigation. All of the doors on the train have since been checked and have all been found to be working normally.Ó

Sub-officer John Peters from Alton Fire Service, said: ÒTwo of our appliances attended the scene, along with the aerial ladder platform and a special equipment unit that were drafted in from Basingstoke. There were 16 firefighters and one officer in all, operating in support of the ambulance service operation.Ó

With fire appliances operating from the Holybourne road bridge, Alton Police were required to close the section of road between the Chawton Park Roundabout and EggarÕs School.

SEO Tony Lea of Alton Police said: ÒA fairly low amount of inconvenience was caused to motorists, because of the reduced volume of traffic at that time of night. We closed the road at the request of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, and the road remained sealed until just after 10-30 pm.

ÒThe closure meant that motorists travelling to Alton on the A31 or travelling out of Alton wanting to join the A31, had to use one of the other routes.Ó

The rail services between Alton and Farnham Stations had to be suspended for the duration of the operation. Buses were provided for inconvenienced rail commuters.