RAIL services were severely disrupted after the death of a woman at a mainline station in Essex.The woman was stood at the platform of Kelvedon station when she appeared to throw herself in front of a Liverpool Street to Clacton train at about 9am yesterday.

RAIL services were severely disrupted after the death of a woman at a mainline station in Essex.

The woman was stood at the platform of Kelvedon station when she appeared to throw herself in front of a Liverpool Street to Clacton train at about 9am yesterday.

The driver had seen her standing very close to the edge as he passed through the station and sounded a horn to warn her back.

But the train, which was travelling at 100mph, struck the woman before it was able to stop about a quarter-of-a-mile further along the track.

Emergency services were called to the scene and the mainline was closed in both directions, meaning commuters had to use buses instead.

Trains from Norwich were forced to terminate at Colchester while trains coming out of the capital were forced to stop at Witham.

Train operator 'one' put on a replacement bus service for passengers between Witham and Colchester but was unable to avoid delays of up to 50 minutes.

The line into London reopened at 10.21am and towards Ipswich it was back in action by 10.30am.

A spokesman for One said there had been no noticeable effect on the evening rush hour.

A British Transport Police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances and the woman, thought to be in her 50s, came from Colchester.

She has yet to be named but a file has been passed to the Essex Coroner and an inquest should be opened shortly.