Woman dies after being trapped under train at Punchbowl station, services resume

Heartbreaking new details have come to light about the woman who was killed when hit by a train in Sydney, with the item she was retrieving revealed.

A woman has died after being hit by a train after she fell on the tracks at Punchbowl Station. Picture: TNV

A woman who died after being hit by a train at Punchbowl on Tuesday night was on holiday from Vietnam visiting her sister when tragedy struck.

Tuyet Nguyen jumped down off the platform in an effort to try and retrieve a shoe she had dropped onto the tracks when she was hit by an oncoming train about 3.30pm.

Horrified onlookers, train staff and then emergency services worked to free Ms Nguyen for more than an hour before being able to do so, at which point they tried to rush her to hospital - however she died a short time later.

Family members told The Daily Telegraph that Ms Nguyen had become a regular visitor to Sydney, where her sister lives.

“She dropped her slipper and tried to pick it up,” her nephew Toan Huynh said.

“She was visiting her sister. She has been visiting her sister Australia a lot.”

NSW Police are understood to be now liaising with the Vietnamese consulate about the 52-year-old’s death.

Tuyet Nguyen who was hit and killed by a train at Punchbowl.

Emergency services at the scene. Picture: TNV

Emergency service workers assisting a woman who fell on the tracks at Punchbowl Station. Picture: TNV

Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters freed Ms Nguyen from beneath the train before paramedic teams tried to revive her.

Officers have spoken with a number of people at the scene and have viewed CCTV as part of inquiries. The train driver returned a negative breath test.

The Sydney Trains team extended their deepest condolences following the incident.

“Sydney Trains extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the passenger who passed away yesterday,” a spokesperson from Sydney Trains said.

“This was a tragic and traumatic incident for all those involved. We thank Sydney Trains staff, emergency services, and those who rendered assistance for their efforts.”

Commuters are encouraged to be vigilant when travelling on the rail network and to ask station staff members for assistance if needed.

A Punchbowl shopkeeper recounted when he became aware of the incident.

“There were plenty of cop cars and ambulance around,” he said.

“I saw they brought the person over and performed CPR and all the paramedics were just standing around.

“It took about an hour.”

Police closed The Boulevarde and directed traffic down Arthur St.

Another shopkeeper was unaware what was happening but saw the commotion.

“There were 10 cops cars around and I knew there was something,” they said.

The bystander near the station said the scene on The Boulevarde was mellow with emergency services working to help the victim.

“It was really bad, it didn’t look good,” they said.

A woman has fallen on the tracks at Punchbowl Station. She was pulled out from under the train by rescue workers and taken to hospital. Picture: TNV

COMMUTER CHAOS

The tragedy led to commuter chaos, with a number of all-stop services to Revesby cancelled, and buses replacing trains.

By 8pm on Tuesday, train services returned to normal after emergency crews cleared the woman from the area, and the delays subsided.

But even then packed T3 Bankstown line trains were passing through Central Station running a few minutes behind schedule, with afternoon commuters greeted by service boards warning of the possible disruption to their journey home.

Commuter Izzy was waiting on neighbouring platform 22 for a train to Erskineville, and while she wasn’t yet affected by the delays, she expressed sympathy for fellow travellers caught up in the tragic incident.

“I’m sure it’s affecting the staff as well,” Izzy said.

Central Station commuter chaos. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

Central station service message warning of long delays after an emergency incident at Punchbowl. Picture: Inasha Iftekhar

T8 and T3 services were running off-timetable and are switching platforms at short notice, with commuters advised to pay careful attention to loudspeaker announcements from station staff.

A Bexley man, who did not wish to give his name, decided to sit down and continue working on his laptop, expecting the 10 minute delay to get home would blow out to 45 minutes based on Transport’s Tripview app.

“I’d be lucky to get home by 7pm at this rate,” he said.

“It doesn’t affect me too much, but my wife won’t be too happy.

Large crowds of commuters at Central Station waiting for a train after peak hour trains were thrown into chaos after a woman fell onto the tracks at Punchbowl Station.

Sydney Trains said delays were expected and replacement buses were being used on parts of the journey.

“Please continue to allow extra travel time due to an incident requiring emergency services at Punchbowl,” a statement posted on social media read.

“Limited buses are replacing trains between Bankstown and Campsie in both directions due to an incident requiring emergency services at Punchbowl.”