(Canwest News Service circulated the following story on December 11.)
REGINA, Sask. — A freight train derailed Thursday night outside Regina.
The derailment happened on the main Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. line near Grand Coulee, Sask., around 8:30 p.m. local time.
The incident posed no threat to the community, a company spokeswoman said.
“There were no injuries and no public safety issues. I am sure the residents of Grand Coulee can see the incident, but they should know that there are no public safety issues,” spokeswoman Breanne Feigel said.
“It is a train carrying potash, so it is not a regulated commodity. It is not a dangerous substance, and there are no environmental issues.”
Grand Coulee is located about 20 minutes west of Regina.
Feigel said there were reports that approximately 20 potash cars were involved in the incident.
“They are not all upright. Some of them are stacked on each other,” Feigel said.
“One of our tail-end locomotives was involved in the derailment.”
Feigel said there was a small amount of fuel leaking, but that it was quickly contained.
“We had first responders on site but we also had CP personnel quite quickly on site and they had the proper containment equipment,” Feigel said.
“The situation is well (in) hand there and emergency response teams have since left the scene.”
She said traffic on the line has been suspended for the time being as cleanup crews begin the task of repairing the damage to the railway line and removing the damaged cars.
The derailment is under investigation.