Great Western Coffee Shop

Rail services have returned to normal after a woman was hit by a train and killed at Highbridge and Burnham station earlier.

Operator First Great Western says routes between Bristol and Penzance are up and running again and are now calling at Highbridge.

The station has now reopened and all lines are running as normal.

Emergency services were called shortly after 11am following reports a woman, believed to be in her 50s, had been hit by a train on the tracks at the station.

The train involved was the 0925hrs Plymouth to Aberdeen Crosscounty service.

The train came to a halt a short time after the collision and the station was closed almost immediately afterwards.

Passengers were moved out to the entrance as police and paramedics were first to arrive on the scene.

Crosscountry has confirmed the train has now moved while the passengers were taken to Bristol Temple Meads before changing to alternative services.

Police cordoned off the platform and many passengers arriving at the station were left to wait for coaches to take them to Weston before continuing with their journeys.

First Great Western said 14 trains were half cancelled, which means they only completed part of their intended journey.

A total of eight replacement coach services have been in operation between Taunton and Weston.

The woman has not been identified but British Transport Police have confirmed she was pronounced dead at the scene and the incident is not currently being treated as suspicious.

A BTP spokesman said: ^I can confirm that a woman has died after being struck by a train at Highbridge rail station, Somerset, today (Friday). The incident was reported to police at 11.08am. BTP officers, colleagues from Avon and Somerset Police and paramedics from the Great Western Ambulance Service attended, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

^The incident is currently being treated as non-suspicious. Enquiries are ongoing to establish woman^s identity and the full circumstances surrounding the incident. A file will be prepared for the coroner.^

Crosscountry Trains refused to comment on what has happened to the train driver but says there is a ^clear process on looking after staff^, adding staff received ^appropriate care^ following the incident.

From thisisthewestcountry (http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/8276551.Breaking_News__Woman_hit_by_train_at_Highbridge_railway_station/):

Tributes paid to popular Lynette Rawles

The heartbroken husband of a woman who died after being hit by a train has described her as a ^devoted mother^ and ^everyone's friend^.

Mother-of-two Lynette Rawles, aged 61, of Church Street, Mark, was pronounced dead at the scene following the collision at Highbridge and Burnham station on Friday morning.

British Transport Police confirmed the incident was not being treated as suspicious.

Mrs Rawles' husband of 41 years, Alan, has paid this week paid tribute to the former secretary of Mark College.

He told the Weekly News: ^Lynette was a devoted mother and everyone, particularly our children Hannah, who is 30, and Simon, who is 34, is shocked and devastated. She was born and bred in Mark and was very popular and well loved - she was everyone's friend. She enjoyed flower arranging, swimming, walking and keeping fit, and was just a really nice person. Everyone is heartbroken and it's absolutely tragic but we are trying to remain positive.^

Sales manager Mr Rawles, 63, added the funeral would not take place until early August, as their daughter Hannah, who lives in London, is due to get married this Saturday.

He said: ^We decided the wedding will still go ahead after a lot of discussion and all we can do is make the best of it.^

Julie Kay, principal at Mark College, said: ^Everyone at Mark College is shocked and saddened by Lyn's death. She was a valued colleague and friend. All our thoughts and sympathies are with her family at this very sad time.^

Neighbours and rail travellers spoke of their shock after popular mum Lynette Rawles was killed after being hit by a train at Highbridge station on Friday.

The Weekly News spoke to several people at the scene in the aftermath of the tragedy, which saw major travel disruption throughout the South-West as 14 trains were cancelled.

One woman, Nadine, was playing in the park with her young son Dennis while they waited for their train back to London.

She said: ^We didn't realise what had happened at first - we had been staying here on holiday and this was really upsetting.^

Barmaid Shelley Woolacott, who works in the Coopers Arms next to the train station, said three women came into the pub crying and distressed.

She added: ^They were heading back to Bristol and the youngest woman was only about 18 or 19 and she said she never wanted to come here again.^

Sam May, 18, who lives opposite the station, was walking past at the time and said she was shocked after discovering what had happened.

The station was closed for most of the day as British Transport Police carried out investigations.

The train involved was the 9.25am Plymouth to Aberdeen Crosscountry service, and the firm confirmed staff received ^appropriate care^ following the incident.

West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose said an inquest into Mrs Rawles' death was likely to open in the next few days.