Police seek witnesses to train death

It was initially thought the train had struck a child near the level crossing in Mt Albert. Photo / Dean Purcell

Police were last night seeking witnesses after a woman was hit and killed by a train in Auckland.

The middle-aged woman was struck near the Woodward Rd level crossing in Mt Albert and was dead when emergency services arrived.

It was initially believed the victim was a child but police at the scene later confirmed it was someone older.

Inspector Matt Rogers, of the police northern communications centre, said the information was made public to ease the concerns of many parents calling police and train authorities.

The woman was hit on the track by the westbound train about 150m from the Woodward Rd crossing.

Mike Knight's property on Jennings St backs onto the part of the track where the woman died, but he did not hear anything apart from the police helicopter overhead.

He had lived in the house for two years and said he had seen "maybe two dozen" people crossing the tracks in that area in that time.

Train services on the western line were disrupted while police worked at the scene. Buses carried westbound passengers from Morningside station.

The train driver was to be offered support and counselling, a KiwiRail spokeswoman said.

Mr Rogers said the death was being referred to the coroner.

- Staff reporter