Communities in the News: Health and Environmental Concerns Raised
In the last few months, additional communities have continued to surface in the news with stories of how they are being affected by rail noise, vibration, exhaust from idling diesel locomotives, derailments, and other safety issues such as the transporting of hazardous materials. Some recent developments include…
(1) CP Rail has significantly expanded operations in its Alyth Yard in Calgary, AB without consultation of the Inglewood community. Residents are finding the noise intolerable. See the article and video Railway yard noise irks neighbours from the CBC on January 26, 2012. A local resident spoke to CBC’s Eyeopener on the same day.
(2) CP Rail has completed its consolidation of “Locomotive Reliability Centres” for maintenance of its fleet of locomotives. It now has facilities in Toronto, Calgary, Winnipeg, and St. Paul, Minnesota according to CP adds missing link to repair strategy on January 18, 2012 from the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) trade association. The Calgary facilty referenced in this article is, in fact, CP Rail’s Alyth facilty where resident complaints are noted the first story above.
The Social Impact of Railways
We recently received the following comment from Mr. Josef Bossart, a Parry Sound, Ontario resident, whose blog, Parry Sounds & Sights, discusses a variety of subjects, including rail transportation issues within the community. Mr. Bossart submitted this comment in a reply to the President of Ontario Southland Railway, Mr. Jeff Willsie, in the recent post FAQ: Contacting Canada’s Two Largest Railways With Your Railway Noise and Vibration Problem.
Those of you familiar with Mr. Willsie through this blog will know that it is his frequently-repeated opinion that:
“If you do not like living beside the railway you should move. The railway cannot move.”
Jeff Willsie
President
Ontario Southland Railway
While we respect Mr. Willsie’s right to his opinion, we cannot agree with it. Read more…
FAQ: Contacting Canada’s Two Largest Railways With Your Railway Noise and Vibration Problem
Where do you turn when you are faced with a concern about railway noise and vibration?
That’s a question that we’ve been asked repeatedly. Often, the people seeking help and relief already feel thoroughly frustrated, upset, sleep deprived, or sometimes, simply overwhelmed.
Contacting the railway involved is an important first step, especially if the problem is an ongoing one. In its “Guidelines for the Resolution of Complaints over Railway Noise and Vibration,” The Canadian Transportation Agency states that “direct communication shall be established among the parties.”
Cellphone and Marijuana Use Cited in CP Rail Crash
The Transportation Safety Board recently released Railway Investigation Report R10V0038 detailing a disturbing set of circumstances surrounding a Canadian Pacific Railway accident in March 2010, near Golden, B.C.
The crew of a CP train hauling 112 empty hopper cars failed to obey a stop signal, and crashed into another train, pulling 142 loaded cars of potash. Both trains measured in excess of 2 kilometres long, or over 1.25 miles. Three locomotives and 26 railcars were derailed in the crash. A 4,500 litre propane tank was punctured, and the resulting fire destroyed a storage shed. Several homes and businesses had to be evacuated.
In addition, approximately 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel were leaked into the surrounding environment, and 85 tonnes of soil impacted by hydrocarbons had to be disposed of, with ongoing reclamation of impacted areas continuing into the following spring of 2011.
Fully Loaded
The derailment spilled 23 railcars loaded with potash. However, according to the TSB’s report, it wasn’t just the potash cars that were loaded: Read more…
Federal Court of Appeal to Rule on Key Railway Noise and Vibration Issue
For those individuals and communities across Canada currently being negatively affected by railway noise and vibration, the pending outcome of a precedent-setting case to be heard by the Federal Court of Appeal this September 20th will be of enormous, nation-wide significance.
After being plagued for years by late night rail noise, the folks in and around the Quayside Community of New Westminster, B.C. are fed up. They’re fed up of having their sleep ruined by late night railway noise and vibration from the four rail companies that operate quite literally in their backyard, namely CN Rail, CP Rail, BNSF, and Southern Railway. Further, they’re fed up with the lack of progress to date in resolving their concerns.
