(United Press International issued the following on August 17, 2009.)
OTTAWA — An engine fire aboard a Canadian passenger train resulted in chaos and riders forced to walk through mosquito-infested bush, witnesses say.
A fire aboard VIA Rail’s Train 46 from Toronto to Ottawa Sunday brought the train to a halt near the Richmond, Ontario, Centennial Golf Club, around 8:30 p.m., as firefighters from Ottawa and Richmond-Stittsville were dispatched to help escort passengers along the tracks, the Ottawa Citizen reported.
But the evacuation was slowed because VIA had to wait for confirmation no other trains were coming, and paramedics treated 15 people for allergic reactions, sore knees and diabetes, the newspaper said.
Journalism student Lauren Vogel, who was on board the train, said there was some panic as smoke from the engine fire filled the passenger cars and conductors allegedly did not give clear evacuation instructions.
Passenger Jeff Enfield told the Citizen the lights on the train went out several times before the fire and questioned why VIA hadn’t discovered any problems during the pre-trip maintenance check.
The Citizen did not report any comments from VIA Rail.