It's understood they tried to get out of the way but didn't clear the tracks in time.
Emergency services are at the scene - the train cannot be cleared of its 100 passengers until Gardaí give the go ahead.
In the meantime, other passengers headed to Sligo will be facilitated by bus transfers from Boyle.
Speaking to Ocean FM, local Sinn Féin councillor Thomas Healy said the emergency services rushed to the tracks:
