Train death: Police unable to confirm identity

Police and forensic staff at the scene of a fatal train versus pedestrian incident near Middlemore Train Station. Photo / Herald on Sunday / Jason Dorday

Police are trying to determine the identity of a person who was hit by a train in South Auckland this morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene near Papatoetoe train station about 6am.

It is understood police and ambulance staff spent the day at the scene trying to find the person's missing body parts.

It is not clear whether the person was a male or a female and only the person's arms had been located.

Police northern communications shift commander Duncan Hall said police had launched an investigation.

"The CIB are investigating a sudden death incident to determine what happened," said Hall.

It's understood the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan said commuters weren't affected as buses had replaced trains while maintenance work was being carried out on that line today.

Hannan said a freight train was involved in the incident.

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