Woman charged over racist Melbourne train attack

A woman has been charged over a vicious and apparently racially motivated attack on a Melbourne train last week.

A 26-year-old Muslim woman was catching an outbound train last Thursday when another woman approached her and made racist remarks.

The attacker then grabbed the woman by the neck and hair and slammed her head into the hand-rails near the doors, in front of a packed carriage.

When the train pulled into Batman station, the attacker shoved the victim out of the doors and onto the platform.

A 31-year-old Fawkner woman faced an out-of-sessions hearing last night and was charged with intent to cause injury, unlawful assault and using insulting words in a public place.

She was remanded in custody to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court today.

Police had earlier condemned the attack, saying the victim was distraught.

"An assault like this has a massive effect on the victim," Detective Senior Constable Michael Potter said.

"It's totally unacceptable."