A train company has been accused of “disgusting behaviour” after passengers claimed a member of staff made an announcement blaming delays on a passenger who had suffered a miscarriage.

Outraged commuters took to social media to complain about the way train staff handled the situation.

@Se_Railway I can't believe a train conductor has just announced the reason the train is delayed is due to a lady having a miscarriage!!!!!! — Amy Bowler (@AmyBowler1) February 23, 2016

Southeastern services were delayed on Tuesday evening after a woman was taken ill at Rochester station in Kent.

An ambulance was called at 5.45pm and services returned to normal at 6.20pm.

#Rochester: Because of an ill passenger at the station, services travelling towards the station from London are affected. — Southeastern (@Se_Railway) February 23, 2016

Passengers said that a tannoy announcement was made saying that the reason for the disruption was a woman having suffered a miscarriage.

A customer, who did not want to be named, said: "I was eight trains behind and the announcement we were given was that someone had suffered a miscarriage and an ambulance was on its way.

@Se_Railway guard on 17:27 VIC-GLM telling everyone train delayed due to person having miscarriage at RTR. So we really need this much info? — P.W (@P__Williams26) February 23, 2016

"The level of personal information broadcast by Southeastern was absolutely disgusting. When they cause a delay they don't tell us anything."

Another woman who was on the train told the Telegraph: "Being pregnant myself it was quite distrubing.

"Everyone on the carriage was looking at each other as if to say did we just hear right!"

One person said on Twitter: “Conductor on 17:56 from LBG to Roch informed the whole train a lady had a miscarriage. Disgusting behavior @Se_Railway. Be ashamed.”

@emilyaturner they announced to a packed commuter train she'd had a miscarriage @Se_Railway hits a new all time low — Sally Smith (@Sporty_sal) February 23, 2016

Another passenger said: "While my heart goes out to the lady and her family I do not feel this message needed to be communicated to passengers on other trains stuck in the delays.

"A simple ‘passenger medical emergency’ would have been sufficient. Poor form by Southeastern yet again."

Will Quinton, from Rainham, Kent, travels to Cannon Street each day, and heard the announcement on one of the services behind the train at Rochester.

He said: "It was entirely inappropriate. It's a private thing, and a terrible thing for a woman to have to go through.

"The driver should have used his loaf and thought of a way to rephrase it. I just wonder where that started."

A Southeastern spokesman said: "We picked up on social media that this announcement had apparently been made. This would be an entirely inappropriate announcement to make and we are looking into the matter."

Telegraph.co.uk