Police investigating a fatal train crash at Werribee are appealing for witnesses to make contact with them.

A woman aged in her 30s died when the Toyota Corolla she was driving was hit by a Melbourne-bound freight train at approximately 5.45 yesterday afternoon.

Police believe the car had stopped across the tracks when it was struck by the high-speed train.

An elderly woman passenger in the car had to be cut from the wreckage.

She was taken to the Alfred Hospital in a stable condition.

The accident forced the closure of the Werribee and Geelong railway lines for several hours.

The Cherry Street level crossing is considered one of the most dangerous in the state, and was ranked thirteenth on a list of Victoria’s most deadly crossings in a government study in 2008.

It is bracketed by a Woolworths grocery store, roundabouts on either side and a set of pedestrian lights, meaning the accident would likely have been witnessed by dozens of shoppers and commuters.

The dangerous set up also means drivers are frequently trapped in the short stretch of road where the crossing lies, when traffic or pedestrian lights turn red or when traffic banks up from the city's busy main street.

The crossing is situated on one of Werribee’s most heavily used roads and is one of only two linkages between the CBD and the western half of the city and burgeoning suburbs such as Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Wyndham Vale, Wyndham Green and Truganina.

But despite its shocking record it was overlooked in favour of more benign crossings in Melbourne’s leafy eastern suburbs when the Baillieu government announced it was beginning work on removing some of our most dangerous rail crossings earlier this year.

Anyone who has information about the collision is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website at www.crimestoppers.com.au.

The road toll for this year is now 119, compared to 128 at this time last year.

Picture: This map of the Cherry St level crossing illustrates how roundabouts and pedestrian lights on either side of the rail lines can easily result in vehicles becoming trapped on the tracks..