BOSTON -- Police in Medford said an 83-year-old woman was hit and killed by a commuter train outbound from Boston Wednesday morning.

Lillian Silva, of Methuen, was hit by the Downeaster Amtrak train No. 683 about 11:15 a.m. at the West Medford train station near High Street as she tried to cross the tracks on foot.

"She is a very, very independent woman. I am shocked. I'm sick to my stomach," said Silva's neighbor, Georgianna Sciacca.

Silva often used trains and buses to get around because she did not drive, Sciacca said.

"She did this routinely -- constantly taking train to train just to go shopping, you know?" Sciacca said. "And you couldn't take her anywhere, couldn't give her a ride and she wouldn't ask. Just a very independent woman."

Silva has one son who lives in Arizona and has extended family in West Medford.

An MBTA spokesman said the train engineer sounded the horn and tried to stop, but it was too late. It is unclear why Silva was on the tracks.

Authorities said the incident is under investigation.

There were 12 passengers on the train, which was headed to Portland, Maine, but no other injuries were reported.