(The following report appeared at the CBC News website on February 8.)
EDMONTON — CN’s main rail line in central Alberta is expected to reopen Tuesday morning after a Via passenger train collided with a logging truck west of Edmonton a day earlier, derailing eight cars and two locomotives.
The logging truck was trying to cross in front of the Vancouver-bound train when the collision occurred, the RCMP said. It is believed the trucker was trying to race across a level crossing and beat the train.
None of the westbound train’s 86 passengers and 15 crew members were seriously injured, said Via. The driver of the truck had to be cut out of the vehicle.
The accident happened at a crossing between the communities of Leaman and MacKay, at roughly 1:30 p.m. MST, about 145 km west of Edmonton.
Train passengers were taken by school bus from the collision site.
Via Rail spokesperson Peter McCarron said the company will get people to their destinations Tuesday. Most will be flown at the company’s expense.