Police say a man has died after being hit by a train while attempting to cross the CP Rail line near the intersection of Southland Drive and Horton Road S.W.

The man was rushed to hospital in critical, life-threatening condition, where he later died of his injuries.

Staff Sgt. Colin Foster said it appears the man was trying to get across the tracks shortly after 10 a.m. on Wednesday when he was struck by the train and fell backward.

The train took about 400 metres to come to a stop but police don't believe the man was dragged by it.

C-Train travel in the area was briefly impacted, according to Calgary Transit, as the site of the collision is near the Southland LRT station.

The CP Rail tracks run parallel to the C-Train tracks in that area.

CP Rail police are also looking into the incident, and spokeswoman Salem Woodrow said the initial investigation indicates the train crew sounded the horn and applied the emergency brakes but were unable to avoid striking the man.

"Our thoughts are with the individual and their family," she said in an email.