25 September 2004 Get Used to Train Horns   West Coast Express trains are faster and quieter than freight trains.   Freight trains will have to sound their horns at some crossings in Maple Ridge, no matter what safety measures are installed. And the quicker, quieter West Coast Express commuter trains always will signal their approach at every level crossing.   While council has agreed to consider spending $32,000 of next year's budget to pay for a study on eliminating most of the horns from Maple Ridge, two railway crossings, one at Ditton Street in Hammond, the other at 240th Street in Albion likely always will require a blast. "The reason for both of those, it's a really sharp corner on the track," said Ron Riach, property and risk manager with Maple Ridge.   Riach said at the Ditton Street crossing, the track curves, impeding visibility. "That's probably the one with the least options, simply because of the layout of the track."   At the 240th Street crossing, it's the curve of the road that may require horns to be sounded.   Currently, an average of 30 trains a day pass through Maple Ridge in both directions, said CP spokesman Ed Greenberg. In addition, West Coast Express runs five trains in the early morning and five in the evening.   West Coast Express told CP Rail those trains always will have to use their horns because passenger trains move faster than freight trains. The trains are also quieter and because they carry people, which adds to the safety risk.   The district tried two years ago to consider the issue, but that was delayed because the Railway Safety Act was being reviewed. Now that's complete, CP Rail will consider Maple Ridge's application to ban train horns on a 24/7 basis.   Before that, however, safety studies costing up to $3,500 for each of nine crossings have to be completed. If approved, district taxpayers also will be on the hook for another $550 per year (for a $4,950 total) for sharing the cost with CP Rail for extra liability insurance for each crossing where trains no longer sound their horns.   The crossings considered for stopping horns are Maple Meadows Way, 203rd Street, Lorne Avenue, Ditton Street, the pedestrian crossing at Interfor's Hammond mill, 224th Street, a private crossing, River Road and 240th Street.