A woman has been stabbed to death on a train in Atlanta in broad daylight. 

Police responded to reports of a knife attack at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Oakland City Station just after 12pm. 

John Elijah Matthews, 25, was arrested by cops at the scene and later charged with murder, MARTA Police Chief Michael Kreher told the Daily Mail. 

Emergency responders treated the wounded woman at the station, but she died from her injuries. She was later identified as Margaret Swan, 66. 

Kreher said a small pocket-knife, less than three inches in size, was recovered from the scene. MARTA police said several horrified passengers witnessed the crime. 

'This appears to be a senseless act of violence, and our thoughts are with the victim's loved ones and those who witnessed this horrific incident,' the department said. 

'We understand the concern and fear incidents like this can cause for those who ride and work on the MARTA system. 

MARTA Police are actively investigating and remain committed to the safety and security of our riders and employees.' 

Passengers who use the Oakland stop in south-west Atlanta said the city's transport system desperately needs safety upgrades.  

'It's crazy, just need more security, for real,' Mantonio Huff, who regularly commutes through the station, told Fox 5. 

'They really need to block it off where homeless people can't come in because it's getting bad out here.'

It comes less than a week after another passenger reported being stabbed several times at the Georgia State stop, also in the middle of the day. 

The attack brings back haunting memories of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska's high-profile murder on a train through Charlotte, North Carolina on August 22. 

A knifeman, who police have identified as Decarlos Brown, 35, was seen in surveillance footage lunging at Zarutska from behind in the random attack. 

In the aftermath of the attack, Brown's sister shared shocking audio with the Daily Mail of a phone call she had with the alleged killer six days after he was arrested.

During the call, Brown explained that he believed his mind was being controlled by 'materials' which had been planted in his brain by the government. 

Brown, who is schizophrenic, was found incompetent to stand trial at the federal level earlier this month, meaning the case remains on hold. 

Zarutska was just 23 when she died. Her heartbroken family said the trial being put on hold brought them 'more uncertainty to an already painful process.' 

Just three months after Zarutska was killed, another passenger was brutally stabbed on the same train line through Charlotte, though police said this attack did not appear to be random.

The male victim, who has not been named, was found near the blue light rail train station with a stab wound just before 5pm on December 5. 

He was treated for his injuries in hospital and recovered from the attack, while Oscar Solarzano, 33, was arrested and charged with attempted first degree murder. 

This is a breaking news story with updates to follow.