British Transport Police revealed today that a 16 year-old youth died last night after being hit by a train near Waterbeach.

His death is not being treated as suspicious and specially trained offcers have been with his family.

Passengers who were on the 1701 Cambridge to Birmingham New Street service when it hit the teenager have been advised to contact the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 if they have affected by the incident.

The line between Cambridge and Ely was closed for two hours following the incident but disruption to later services continued into the evening. Replacement buses ferried passengers between Ely and Cambridge.

“I was on this train,” one passenger said. “There was no impact at the front of the train but it felt very much like the train ran over an obstruction and even wobbled slightly. For half a second I thought the train might come off the track.

“Everyone on board assumed the train had run over a branch or fallen tree. It was a terrible situation.”

Another passenger said: “There were loud metallic sounds under the train just north of Waterbeach; it didn’t sound good. I didn’t hear or feel any impact, but I’m not near the front of the train”.

Passengers were kept on board pending arrival of emergency services.