BATHURST MINES, N.B. — Equipment failure is being pinpointed as the possible cause for a freight train derailment in an isolated area of northern New Brunswick, the Canadian Press reported.
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board have been at the scene since Friday when 21 freight cars left the tracks about 30 kilometres southwest of Bathurst. No one was injured.
Three of the cars contained dangerous chemicals including sulphuric acid and sodium chloride, reported the ATV television network.
Michel Doucet, general manager of the N.B. East Coast Railway, said officials were able to determine there was “no immediate threat to the environment and the public in general” after assessing the situation on Friday.
Environment Canada was overseeing the removal of the chemicals from the damaged cars by cleanup crews on Sunday.
“Some of the products has leaked to a wetland or bog area,” said department spokesman George Long. “Due to the nature of the bog, it’s not running water so it’s fairly contained within that area so damage is localized.”
The incident also tore up about 180 metres of track on the main rail line, causing Via Rail to bus its passengers from Moncton, N.B., to Bathurst.
“Because of where we are and the type of derailment we’ve had, the actual cause is hard to investigate,” Doucet said. “Our initial findings right now are leading towards equipment failure.”
Crews don’t expect the track to reopen until late Monday or early Tuesday.