The passenger train had just left the Bathurst railway station when it hit the man shortly before 11am.

Chifley Police District commander Superintendent Paul McDonald said it was a distressing scene that confronted officers who were called to the scene beside the Vale Road.

“It’s traumatic for all responders and the people on the train,” he said.

“It’s just a horrible scene and nothing you would want to wish on anyone.”

The dead man’s body remained on the tracks while the XPT had come to a stop about 100 metres further along, with the driver and passengers still on-board.

Supt McDonald said police were unable to immediately determine the man’s age but could confirm he was not a child.

Police were working to formally identify the dead man.

“We believe it to be a young male but we can’t determine the age at this stage until we go through a number of identification processes,” he said.

“We can’t speculate at this stage what’s actually occurred.

“It is a traumatic scene. Obviously the driver of the train has gone through a bit of trauma in regards to what he’s seen.

“We would urge people to take the ultimate care around level crossings.”

Police interviewed a number of motorists who were waiting at the level crossing ofr the XPT to pass when the man was struck.

“We’ve conducted a number of interviews with some people who we can say have provided some information with regard to what’s happened here today,” Supt McDonald said.

“That will form the basis of our report to the coroner.”

MAP: Where the incident occurred ...

Passengers were kept on the train for more than two hours as investigators inspected the scene.

The XPT eventually continued through to Orange where passengers where transferred to coaches for the rest of the trip to Dubbo.

The afternoon return XPT service was also replaced by coaches between Dubbo and Orange but the train was expected to complete the rest of the journey between Orange and Sydney.

The rail line was reopened around 3pm.

Supt McDonald said the XPT driver was given mandatory drug and alcohol testing following the incident.

He asked any witnesses to the incident to contact police.

Officers will prepare a report for the coroner to determine the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.