Police have “cast a wide net” and vowed to leave “no stone unturned” in their search for answers after a woman was found dead in Queensland.

A member of the public came across the body near train tracks on Railway Ave in Railway Estate, Townsville, about 9.45am on Friday.

Authorities are still working to confirm the woman’s identity and notify her family.

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Detective Acting Inspector Phil Watts said the body was located “more towards the railway tracks” than Railway Ave, but it was “too early to tell” how long she had been there.

“Obviously, these are quite complex matters and take some time to resolve, so at this point we can’t really put a timeframe on it,” Watts said.

He said it was too early to determine whether she had been struck by a car.

Police are dedicating significant resources to the investigation and are “following up a number of different lines of inquiry.”

“I can say that we will leave no stone unturned in identifying and ascertaining what happened to this lady,” Watts said.

Police do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the public.

Railway Ave, between the Doorey St and Queens Rd intersections, is closed as investigations continue.

It is expected to remain off-limits well into Friday evening, and drivers are advised to avoid the area.

A stolen car dumped nearby does not appear to be connected to the investigation, police said.

Watts appealed for witnesses who saw anything unusual — as well as anyone with dashcam footage dating back to Tuesday — to contact Crime Stoppers.

“We’re just trying to cover all bases. We’re very early on in this investigation, so any information we can get from the public would be greatly appreciated,” he said.

Support is being offered to the member of the public who discovered the body.

“These things can be quite traumatic for those who come across them, and also for police and emergency services,” Watts said.