13 April 2007
Derailment Clean-Up Continues
Crowsnest Alberta - The cause of the second train
derailment the Crowsnest Pass has seen in the last 10 months is still unknown.
Breanne Feigel, spokesperson for Canadian Pacific (CP), says the company continues to look into what caused the 14-car,
two-locomotive derailment near the East Hillcrest access last Wednesday morning. "It's too early to speculate, but
once (a cause is known) we'll send our findings to the Transportation Safety Board," she explained. "Safety is our number one
concern as a company. We're one of the safest railroads in North America and we continue to (determine) ways to make it safer,"
said Feigel.
The line through the Pass was clear by 2:30 p.m. the day following the derailment, and Feigel says crews were able to get the track
fixed and fully functioning in that time. If everything goes as planned, she says CP is expecting to have all cars cleaned off the site
by the end of next week.
Feigel says CP appreciated the support and understanding they received, both from the nearby homeowners and the Crowsnest Pass as a
whole. "The Crowsnest community was really accommodating and we were really happy to work with the community and will continue to
work with the community through the issue."
Of the 14 cars involved in the derailment, 12 were empty and two were carrying lime. A small amount of lime from one of the cars leaked
out, but Feigel said environmental monitoring representatives were on hand during the clean-up and determined there
weren't any concerns. "We're federally regulated by Transport Canada and are governed by their rules and regulations," she
explained, adding they also have a large number of protocols within the company they follow. Included in their company safety policies
are track checks, which Feigel says are done two to three times per week, as well as constant monitoring with computerized track
equipment.
During last Tuesday's Council meeting, Councillor Gary Taje said this second derailment should give any resident of the Pass some cause
for concern. "I think Council should be petitioning Transport Canada to do a safety audit on the tracks in the Crowsnest
Pass," he said, and made a motion to do so.
Councillor Nestor Chorney said he feels the Pass has been lucky so far that there hasn't been any major environmental disasters from
the derailments.
Council voted 5-1 in favour of Councillor Taje's motion, with Mayor John Irwin voting
against.
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