FARNHAM commuters experienced severe delays returning from the capital on Tuesday after two people were hit by trains between London Waterloo and Woking.

One man was killed at New Malden station at around 12.30pm and another died just 15 minutes later after being hit by a train at Woking.

All services on the Alton line were cancelled as a result and although the line reopened at around 2.30pm, due to the length of time it was closed trains were severely disrupted throughout the evening rush hour.

Many Farnham commuters reported delays of up to two hours, while others were moved to find alternative routes home via Guildford and Farnborough stations, and some even costly taxi journeys home from London.

Large crowds gathered at Waterloo and further chaos was caused by sudden timetable and platform amendments.

In a statement on its website, South West Trains said: “Two separate incidents involving a person hit by a train have taken place between Waterloo and Woking.

“As of 2.30pm, all lines have now reopened however due to the length of time they were closed significant disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day.”

The operator has advised anyone delayed by more than an hour may be entitled to compensation. See its website www.southwesttrains.co.uk for details.

A spokesman for the British Transport Police said neither fatality was being treated as suspicious.