Train travel kept 76-year-old safe from the cold, but not his attackers

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Final movements … CCTV footage of the victim at Newcastle station.

HIS transient lifestyle drove him to find somewhere warm and safe on freezing winter nights, and this homeless man found solace in the railway system.

He is believed to have become accustomed to travelling the northern line between Central and Newcastle train stations, especially at night, knowing that terminations at either end meant he would never be more than three hours from home.

But it was to prove fatal.

The lifestyle of the 76-year-old victim was becoming clearer yesterday as senior police labelled the bashing murder as one of the most callous they had encountered, while pleading with commuters and possible witnesses to help them hunt down his attackers.

The last images of the man, whose identity has not been confirmed despite some evidence found on his battered body, are of him shuffling down the Newcastle platform moments before he climbs aboard the 3.59am service to Central on Friday.

Detectives believe the attack happened somewhere between Newcastle and Cardiff stations, and before passengers boarding at Cardiff found him in a pool of blood and alerted authorities.

Police met the train at Fassifern station where paramedics treated the man. He died of his severe head and facial injuries on Saturday night.

The victim was travelling in the front four of the eight carriage-service when he was set upon by an unknown number of attackers.

The Lake Macquarie local area commander, Superintendent Craig Rae, yesterday described the attack as violent and callous.

”I have been around for 26 years and this is one of the most cowardly attacks I have seen on a gentlemen of that particular age group,” Superintendent Rae said.

It is now believed the victim is probably a man who frequents inner-Sydney but uses the rail system to stay safe and warm.

The victim had arrived at Newcastle earlier in the night, and had spent some time in the vicinity of the station, before getting on the early morning service.

”We believe that that service is quite well frequented,” Superintendent Rae said.

”There are a number of commuters getting up at that time and utilising that train service to go to their work in Sydney.

” … and we are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have been on that train between Newcastle and Cardiff railway stations.”

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