Albany train death: Grim details emerge as police rule woman’s death in CBD a tragic accident

The death of a woman found inside the engine of a grain train in Albany’s CBD has highlighted the tragic consequences of homelessness in WA’s regional towns. Police, firefighters and paramedics rushed to Proudlove Parade, swarming a stationary train after blood-curdling screams were heard from the railway line at the bottom of Albany’s mains street on Friday night. One person came to the woman’s aid as she became entangled in the engine of a CBH Group locomotive and just after 8.40pm rescue crews attended in a desperate bid to save the woman’s life. The rescue effort ended about an hour later, however, as emergency services determined that the woman was deceased. A 45-year-old male was assisting detectives with their investigation. It is understood that he was known to the victim and tried to help her when she became trapped. The woman, who was known to Albany’s community of rough sleepers, is believed to have been familiar with the area around Albany Railway Station and was with a friend at the time of her death. The locomotive in which she was found was parked on the railway line beneath the suspended walkway that connects Stirling Terrace with the city’s marina. Friday night revellers could be seen lining up along Stirling Terrace and gathering at the base of the gazebo to watch the emergency unfold. Police cleared people off the bridge, saying that it was a critical incident, and cordoned off the area immediately surrounding the train. After about an hour, the fire and medical response teams left while Albany detectives and forensics remained, collecting evidence and surveying the scene. In the early hours of Saturday morning, at about 1.30am, firefighters returned, taking about three hours to extract her body from inside the locomotive – a complex matrix of hydraulics and engine parts. The retrieval operation involved cutting through industrial-strength steel as firefighters worked carefully to avoid hydraulic lines and cause as little damage as possible to the train. A CBH Group spokesperson said it was “deeply saddened” by the tragic incident and was “fully cooperating” with police as they investigate the incident. “We are deeply saddened by the news of a person found an unknown deceased on one of our trains. Our thoughts are with the person’s family and friends during this hard time,” the spokesperson said. “CBH is fully cooperating with authorities in their investigations into the matter. No further comment will be made while the matter is under investigation.” Albany has seen a significant rise in homelessness with the 2021 census revealing that the number of people experiencing homelessness increased by 147 per cent since 2016. When the data was released in March, four key housing support organisations in Albany — Advance Housing, Anglicare WA, Albany Youth Support Association, and Pivot Support Services — agreed that the issue had likely worsened since the census was conducted. At the time, Anglicare WA senior housing case manager Tamara Owens said Anglicare WA support workers were seeing groups of people they had never had to help before. “The fact we’re being contacted by families with two parents working full-time, yet unable to pay their rent, highlights the severity of the housing crisis in the region,” she said. “Rough sleeping has also become more visible in Albany over the past few years, another indication of the urgent need for increased support and resources to address the growing homelessness crisis in the region.” Albany detectives will prepare a report for the coroner who will determine the cause of death. Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Albany police on 9892 9300, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperswa.com.au. If you or someone you know needs help, phone SANE Australia Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263)