A girl has been hit and killed on the railway bridge in Ngāruawāhia (file photo).

An 11-year-old girl has been hit by a freight train and killed in the Waikato.

The girl was hit on the railway bridge in Ngāruawāhia around 6pm on Sunday.

The train was travelling from Hamilton to Auckland when it struck the girl, KiwiRail said in a statement.

KIWIRAIL/SUPPLIED KiwiRail has issued a warning asking people not to jump off the railway bridge in the past (file photo).

"The locomotive driver is understandably distressed and as is normal practice has been relieved of duties," KiwiRail said.

"The line is currently closed whilst police undertake their investigation."

The girl died at the scene and her death will be referred to the coroner, police said in a statement.