CN police stressing safety around tracks

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This article was published 13/07/2018 (2823 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cracking down on train-related enforcement, a duo of constables with CN Police were patrolling the rail line through Brandon on Thursday.

Located south of the CP Rail line that marks the northern edge of the city’s downtown core, Brandon’s stretch of CN rail line includes a handful of crossings through the heart of the city.

By early afternoon on Thursday, local Const. Joe Jardine said that he had joined Winnipeg-based Const. Lise Aquin in handing out a few warnings to people.

The most common offence he sees take place in Brandon involves motorists crossing the tracks at a flashing red light, without stopping.

When the lights are flashing, rail crossings should be treated like a stop sign, he said, adding that motorists are to proceed one vehicle at a time.

As soon as the gate comes down, he said that motorists should avoid the tracks altogether.

Another common problem involves trespassing, he said, pointing to the stretch of track between Sixth Street and 13th Street as being a hot spot for such activity.

Train tracks are private property, he said, and should only be crossed at marked crossings that accompany roads and sidewalks.

CP Rail has also noted trespassing along their stretch of railway, particularly since last year’s decommissioning of the Eighth Street bridge.

Following a two-month education and outreach period, they stepped up enforcement and began handing out tickets.

Jardine said that he employs a combination of both warnings and enforcement, since not everyone is aware of the laws that govern conduct around train tracks.

“Enforcement only really covers one base, and if people don’t know, they just honestly don’t know,” he said, adding that he strives to visit as many local schools to educate youngsters on the rules of the rail as possible.

While he can be more lenient on some people, repeat offenders get ticketed.

Jardine’s jurisdiction covers all of Westman, from Portage la Prairie to the Saskatchewan and United States borders, north to Dauphin.

The latest incident to take place in this region occurred a month ago near Portage la Prairie, where a motor vehicle collided with a train.

At latest update, Jardine said that driver remained in a Winnipeg hospital in critical condition.

Aquin said that there were more than 222 locomotive-related incidents across Canada in 2017, including 72 fatalities and 44 serious injuries.

Although Thursday’s focus was in Brandon, she said that rail lines in rural areas can also present a safety hazard.

With locomotives moving more quickly outside of larger centres, and not all intersections including gates or lights, she said that people should remain ever vigilant when approaching rail lines.

CN Rail’s main line is located north of the city. The tracks within city limits are a spur line, which Jardine said an average of between three and four trains use per week at this time of year.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB