26 January 2011

21 Freight Cars Jump the Tracks in Ontario's Cottage Country

Severn Falls Ontario - About 20 rail cars are off the tracks following an early morning derailment in the heart of Ontario's northern cottage country.
 
The incident occurred near Severn Falls, a small town about 160-kilometres north of Toronto, along a Canadian Pacific Rail mainline at 3:20 a.m. Wednesday.
 
 

 

 
CP Rail spokesman Mike LoVecchio said the derailed cars were part of an eastbound freight train that was passing a westbound freight train waiting on a siding. The derailed cars struck the westbound freight, he said.
 
Several cars carrying grain and lumber jumped the tracks, including one car carrying propane. Severn Fire personnel, as well as Ontario Provincial Police and a CP assessment team are on site to determine any risks that might arise as a result of the leaking propane.
 
Both train crews have been accounted for, Mr. LoVecchio said, and no injuries have been reported. He added that there is no indication of any impact to environment.
 
Some local residents have been evacuated as a precaution, but no immediate risks have been identified, according to reports.
 
This is the third derailment for the company in 2011, but Mr. LoVecchio said that record is better than it was at this time in 2010.
 
The collision coincides with the release of the company quarterly results.
 
The results show train accidents occurred 1.63 times every million train-miles and that 1.61 employee injuries occurred every 200,000 hours worked.
 
Kenyon Wallace.