An 18-year-old Coburg man has been arrested following a sexual assault in Preston earlier this year.

Investigators have been told a 20-year-old female got off a route 86 tram on Plenty Road in Preston about 10.44pm on January 15.

Police say an unknown male also got off the tram and approached the woman on Bell Street, where he sexually assaulted her before leaving on foot.

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In a strange coincedence, the attack took place on the same night and on the same tram line as the fatal attack on 21-year-old university student Aiia Maasarwe.

Ms Maasarwe was followed off the 86 route tram on the corner of Main Drive and Plenty Road in Bundoora, five kilometres further up the tram line from Preston just after midnight on January 16.

The Coburg man was arrested and interviewed by police on Monday night and released pending a court summons.