(The following report by Ian Bailey appeared on the Globe and Mail website on September 18.)
VANCOUVER — A CN derailment – the third in six weeks in northwestern British Columbia – is spurring renewed calls from the NDP Opposition for the B.C. government to launch a public inquiry into Canadian National Railway’s safety record.
The spill of 29 grain cars on a train about 50 kilometres east of Terrace came as a senior CN executive was in Prince George to address that community’s concerns about a derailment in August.
No injuries occurred during yesterday’s spill from a 99-car train. CN was hoping to clear the line by today, said spokeswoman Kelli Svendsen.
Ms. Svendsen said there was no immediate explanation for the 2:30 a.m. accident involving the Prince Rupert-bound train.
But NDP transportation critic Maurine Karagianis said it’s past time for an assessment of CN’s safety record in the province, especially because this new spill occurred on a line that will service the recently opened $170-million Fairview container port in Prince Rupert.
“I am concerned that CN is not being provided with oversight by the government,” she said. “It’s not acceptable that we continue to hear about derailments like these every few weeks. I am sure the government can’t explain why we have had three derailments in six weeks and no action on the part of government.”
Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, who has previously rejected NDP calls for an inquiry into rail safety, was not available for comment yesterday. A spokeswoman for Mr. Falcon noted that the minister has previously responded to such calls by pointing out that he has faith in his federal counterpart to regulate rail issues, including safety matters related to derailments.
Ms. Karagianis said she expects to further press the case for an inquiry when the legislature reopens next month. “I am just hoping there is no hazardous derailment between now and the time we have a chance to raise these issues in the House,” she said.
“If I was the minister of transportation for British Columbia, I would make it my business to get on top of this right now.”
Ms. Svendsen declined comment on calls for an inquiry, suggesting CN would not get caught up in a political debate.
However, Ms. Svendsen said that accidents are an inevitable part of the work of a far-flung transportation operation like CN, but that its overall safety record has improved.
She noted that CN has spent $217-million this fiscal year to improve track, tunnels, bridges and other parts of the system to reduce accidents, but added, “It’s very difficult to eliminate all transportation accidents period.”
Ms. Svendsen was in Prince George where Jim Vena, vice-president for CN’s western region, was to brief the company on CN safety initiatives in light of an Aug. 4 derailment that created a spectacular fire but little contamination of an area river.
Prince George Mayor Colin Kinsley said he was willing to give CN “the benefit of the doubt” on safety issues, partly due to spending by the company on improving its system, but that area residents are concerned about derailments.
He called the situation a “public-relations nightmare” for CN.