Train kills autistic boy

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A SEARCH for a missing child ended in tragedy yesterday morning when a seven-year-old boy was killed by an express train while playing on the tracks at Strathmore railway station.

The boy, who is believed to have been autistic, had wandered from his father's Essendon home about an hour before he was hit by the train.

The father searched for his pyjama-clad son, then reported him as missing five minutes before he was struck.

There was only one witness to the accident, which happened at 8am.

"The witness saw him on the tracks and we're a bit unclear what he was actually doing there, and the witness was not able to remove him in the short time he had," said Senior Sergeant Andrea McAlpine.

"He did try to alert the train to get the train to stop, but that was unsuccessful. As you know, express trains, they're very hard to pull up and there was not enough time. It is just a tragic accident and our hearts go out to the family.

"The parents are very upset — understandably so — and we would hope that they would have the support of the rest of their family at this time."

The city-bound V/Line express train that hit the boy had left Seymour, north of Melbourne, and would have been travelling at about 60 km/h or less, V/Line spokesman Daniel Moloney said.

The line was closed to V/Line and metropolitan trains for about three hours after the accident.

Mr Moloney said the eight passengers on board, the driver and conductor had all been offered counselling.

Premier John Brumby said the accident was a "horrible, horrible" tragedy and the boy didn't realise he was in any danger.

"What do you say about a story like that? You just hope it's news that you never hear," he said.

With DAVID ROOD, AAP