"First indications point to suicide," a media officer for the Lower Saxony police told Reuters before adding Enke's body was found at a train crossing in Neustadt am Ruebenberge near Hanover.
NEWS: Police discover Enke suicide note
NEWS: Germany stunned by Enke death
"At 1825 he was run over by a regional express train running between Hamburg and Bremen," said police spokesman Stefan Wittke. "The train was travelling at the speed of 160-kph."
The player's friend and consultant Joerg Neblung told reporters: "I can confirm this is a case of suicide. He took his own life just before six (pm). There will be a press conference tomorrow with more details."
"The German team has learned of the death of Robert Enke with great shock," said the DFB in a statement. "National team coach Joachim Loew and manager Oliver Bierhoff said 'we are all shocked, we are speechless'."
Loew informed the squad of Enke's death in a hotel in Bonn ahead of their friendly match against Chile on Saturday in Cologne.
DFB president Theo Zwanziger said the federation was in mourning. "Our feelings go out to his wife and family," he said.
Enke, who had spells with clubs in Spain, Turkey and Portugal before signing for Bundesliga team Hanover in 2004, experienced a difficult time in recent months as he battled to secure his place in Germany's team.
"This is a tragedy," Hanover president Martin Kind told reporters.
Despite not being called up for two friendlies against Chile and Ivory Coast this month, even after Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler pulled out with an eye infection, Loew had hinted Enke was still front-runner for the starting spot.
"Germany loses an exceptional athlete and a sensitive man who was a role model for many," said Lower Saxony governor Christian Wulff.
Hundreds of fans gathered to light candles outside the Hanover 96 offices after learning of Enke's death.
"He was a brilliant man, a gentle man and he had this peace that he would project onto others," said Hanover 96 sports director Joerg Schmadtke. "We did not have any indicati
