(Canwest News Service circulated the following story on June 7, 2009.)
OSHAWA, Ont. — Cleanup crews with the Canadian Pacific Railway remained at the scene Saturday of a major train derailment east of Toronto.
CPR spokesman Mike LoVecchio said crews completed an “assessment of risks” at the site late Friday.
Two locomotives and 27 cars of the 111-car train derailed around 2:15 p.m. local time Friday. One car was carrying hydrogen peroxide, a household disinfectant that is hazardous in large quantities.
LoVecchio said the goal Saturday was to remove that specific car and cleanup any of the spilled product on the tracks.
“We’ll also be clearing derailed cars from the rail,” he said. “This will be a 24-hour operation, yes.”
An undetermined amount of diesel fuel also spilled onto the tracks. The fuel has been cleaned up.
The tracks, which were heavily damaged, will need to be repaired, LoVecchio said.
A handful of people were on the train, but there were no reported injuries.
Police said there was significant damage to properties along the line.
The neighbourhood, just north of the busy Highway 401, remained evacuated.
Investigators with Durham regional police, Transport Canada, Transportation Safety Board are also present at the scene.