The identity of a man killed by a coast-bound CP Rail train early Thursday morning is still unknown.

Chief regional coroner Larry Marzinzik said the case is still under investigation and he couldn't give an age for the dead man.

"Right now, I don't believe we have any reports of anyone missing or unaccounted for. But if there is anyone with identification information, it might help if they called RCMP," he said.

The loaded coal train was headed west through the Pat Road crossing when the crew noticed a man lying on the tracks at 4:39 a.m., said CP Rail spokesman Kevin Hrysak.

"The crew did what they could to alert by sounding horn and putting the train in emergency braking," he said.

The train could not be stopped in time and it struck the man.

Hrysak said such incidents are traumatic for the crews — in this case, a conductor and engineer.

"They're the first ones on the scene in these situations and they witness it first hand," he said.

"We relieve the crew of duty and follow up with a critical stress counsellor if they choose. That doesn't mean they're right back to work. It's always something they follow up with and each individual crew member deals with these situations differently."

CP Rail is co-operating with the investigation, he said.

Marzinzik said toxicology tests are being ordered.