Conductor run over by US tourist train

A train conductor has died in the US after falling on the tracks in Colorado before being run over as a packed train reversed.

A conductor on a packed scenic train in Colorado in the US has died after she was run over by the train as it was reversing back towards a station.

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office says Leslie Cacy, 28, of Canon City, was standing near the rear of the Royal Gorge Railroad train on Saturday night when she fell as it was backing up nearly six kilometres from the train station.

A spokeswoman said the train goes into a canyon and then reverses to return to the station.

There were about 200 people on the train at the time, authorities said.

The Royal Gorge is about 16km long, with the Arkansas River running through it and the railroad running along its banks. Its granite walls soar over 305 metres.