MP Tobias Ellwood has called for urgent action at a “grim” station where several people have died on the railway line in recent months.

He called for Network Rail and South West Trains to do everything they can “to understand why this keeps happening at this particular station.”

A man in his 40s was the latest person to die at Pokesdown station in Bournemouth after being struck by a train just after 8pm on Friday.

Paramedics attended a report of a casualty on the tracks and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East, said: “Every single case is clearly a tragedy. We need a proper investigation into any links.

“It looks like a rather grim station - does that add to it? We must look at this extremely carefully.”

British Transport Police have confirmed that the latest death is not being treated as suspicious and officers are in the process of preparing a report for the coroner.

Network Rail introduced Land Sheriffs and Trespass and Welfare Officers at the station last month after a series of deaths on the tracks.

The aim was to provide a round-the-clock service in a bid to save lives.

At the time of their introduction the move was welcomed by the Samaritans.

Mark Wildey, branch director of Samaritans in Bournemouth, said: “We hope this is part of a long-term commitment to make the area safe.

“We’ve been down there a few times and have seen the station manned by either Land Sheriffs or Trespass and Welfare Officers. We have spoken to them and we are trying to build a good working relationship with them.”

He said the intention is for all Network Rail staff to be trained by the Samaritans in dealing with and managing potentially vulnerable people. Nationally more than 20,000 people have received the training so far.

He added: “Having been down to there with one of my colleagues as part of an assessment of the station, if there is no one there looking out for people, it can be a very lonely place.”

Land Sheriffs have been working with Network Rail for 12 years and carry out a number of different roles including lifesaving work.

According to signs put up on the station platforms, the Land Sheriffs use “covert devices and thermal imaging cameras” and a mixture of “high-tech security monitoring through CCTV and trackside patrols”.

Trespass and Welfare Officers keep an eye out for people in a vulnerable situation. It is not known if they were at the station at the time of the man’s death on Friday. Samaritans can be contacted free of charge, 24 hours a day, on 116 123.