The area has been cordoned off.

A pedestrian is dead after being hit by a commuter train near Upper Hutt's Heretaunga station.

The matter will be referred to the coroner.

Services on the Hutt Valley line were cancelled, which could cause significant problems for commuters, she said.

COLIN WILLIAMS/STUFF Police at the scene.

A MetLink spokeswoman said there were bus replacements between Taita station and Upper Hutt.

Wairarapa trains were still running but commuters should expect delays, she said.

Police were called to the scene at 4.12pm. They said it was too early to identify the gender of the person.

COLIN WILLIAMS/STUFF Police at the scene of the pedestrian death on railway tracks at Upper Hutt on Monday.

About 5.30pm, police were continuing to work at the scene, at the northern end of the station, at the track level crossing opposite the pedestrian crossing in front of the New Zealand Institute of Innovation and Sport.

A southbound train had stopped, with two of its four carriages short of the platform proper.

Several police cars were at a widely cordoned-off area, and a police photographer had arrived.

Police were making no comment at the scene.