DOZENS of passengers faced a 40 minute delay after their train was halted by a drunk man lying on the line.

Tuesday’s 18.13 Ipswich to Lowestoft service was brought to a standstill after a member of the public spotted the man, wearing a red T-shirt, and a dog on the line near Melton. The train was carrying about 50 passengers at the time and was made to stop for about 40 minutes.

Passenger Zoah Hedges-Stocks said the man was helped up but seemed to be “staggering” by the line.

She said: “He was pulled off the tracks and regained consciousness but we couldn’t move until the police turned up.” She said the passengers had been “quite calm but curious” and said the train had eased to a stop rather than carry out an emergency stop.

A spokesman for Suffolk Police confirmed that officers had attended, along with colleagues from British Transport Police (BTP) and that the man was taken home but not arrested.

A spokesman for Greater Anglia said the 18.13 service was delayed at Melton by about 40 minutes.

He added: “I understand that was while BTP attended as there was a trespasser on the track. He has now been apprehended.”