Mississauga Fire confirmed in a tweet that a child was struck by a GO train in the area of ​​Dundas Street and Cawthra Road.  The call came in around 7:40 p.m
The fire service reported that both ambulances and police rushed to the scene.
Just before 9pm, Peel Police confirmed the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
A witness told CP24 that he and some colleagues were standing outside their repair facility nearby when they heard the sound of the train’s horn loudly.
“We heard the train honking too much, so we looked at each other and said something was up,” he said.  “And then a few minutes later we heard an impact.  We knew the train had hit something and then we realized that obviously, after the fact, it had hit a small child.”
“Our thoughts are with our family and loved ones and of course with the train crew and passengers as well.  It had a profound impact on everyone involved tonight,” Metrolinx spokesman James Wattie told CP24.
He said about 300 passengers were on the train when the child was hit.
“We are providing grief counselors for our crew and staff investigating the scene,” Wattie said.  “We also understand that the incident has been very upsetting to customers on board.  We encourage them to seek whatever mental health support they need in the community.”
He said the train would remain at the scene until investigators with Peel police were removed.
GO buses are brought in to take passengers the rest of the way to their stops.
It is not yet clear how the child ended up in the path of the train.
Peel police released few details about the incident Tuesday night and could not confirm whether the child was with a family member when they were hit.
Police have not yet released the child’s age, but Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie described the child in a tweet as four years old.
“Absolutely devastated to hear of the death of a 4 year old toddler who was tragically hit by a train tonight,” Crombie wrote.  “Losing a child is nothing short of a tragedy and my heart goes out to their family and loved ones as they grieve this indescribable and immeasurable loss.”
Neighbors in the area told CP24 they have been concerned for some time about the lack of a proper barrier around the train tracks.
“I can’t believe it,” said a man who lives nearby, who did not want to be identified.
He said at one point he considered starting a petition to get the city to build a barrier as he regularly sees many pedestrians dangerously close to the tracks.
“Please do something about it.  We don’t want another child to lose their life,” he said.