Ugly footage has emerged after a woman allegedly verbally abused a mother and child over their religion on a Melbourne train before yanking the hijab off a passenger who tried to help.

Fahima Adan, 20, appeared on Nine News on Sunday night with bruises and scratches on her arm following the incident, which occurred shortly after midday on Saturday on a train from Dandenong.

A 39-year-old Clayton woman has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Ms Adan, from Dandenong, said she tried to help a 42-year-old mother and three-year-old boy when she saw them being racially abused by a "racist, crazy lady" who, she said, screamed, "I hate Islam".