Brothers and Sisters,

The more we learn about the derailment reported yesterday, the more we realize that this was an extremely lucky incident.  And the more we realize that we have to continue to push upper management at CPRail that now is the time to rebuild and renew the infrastructure.  Get the maintenance and repair people back to work, not only our members but also those in mechanical (CAW) that have been slashed in this "Effective, Efficiency" program. 

If there are temporarily less trains running , then use this time to get the work done. Bring the infrastructure up to a level that will prevent the risk of more incidents (or worse) like yesterday. The vital work that has been deferred in SOSA must be reconsidered and a proper HD Tie crew should be put to work in NOSA.  Get a proper ballast program going across the System.  The problems, derailments and the defects are not going to prevent themselves.

Stay safe, stay strong, stay united.

Bill Brehl
President
TCRCMWE
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Train Derails in Canmore
Evacuations ordered due to chemical leak
 
Stephane Massinon
Calgary Herald

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

When biathlon athletes from 13 countries woke up Monday morning at their Canmore hotel, it wasn't thoughts about the evening's opening ceremonies of the 2009 IBU Biathlon Youth/Junior World Championship that came to mind.

Instead, they were awakened by a fire alarm and knocks on their doors telling them to leave immediately.

Right beside the hotel, nine train cars derailed and two fell over. One started leaking the chemical glycol, and town officials immediately ordered the evacuation of neighbouring schools and businesses, including the Quality Resort Chateau Canmore.

General manager Greg Ivany was in the hotel when he heard the troubled train around 6:45 a. m.

"The train is always a little loud going by, but this morning it was very loud. It shook the windows," said Ivany.

"We weren't sure what it was, but shortly after, the RCMP and the fire department came by and asked us to evacuate the hotel," he said.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Patrick Webb said the decision to evacuate was a pre-cautionary move.

"The biggest situation (was) the unknown. We didn't know what was in (the car) at the time," said Webb.

The high school, recreation centre, a few businesses and the hotel were evacuated, but by around 10 a. m. the order was lifted.

Canadian Pacific said it was trying to determine what happened to the westbound train.

Spokeswoman Breanne Feigel said the derailment happened on the siding--a track where trains can pull over from on-coming trains--not the main track.

"We're evaluating each and every aspect of this incident and we'll be launching a full investigation to determine why (it derailed)," she said.

She called the glycol leak minor and estimated the spill would be measured in litres, not gallons. Glycol is a chemical used in the production of automotive antifreeze.

"Our team came and determined(there were) no injuries, no public safety issues and no environmental issues," she said.

But Bill Brehl, president of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, Maintenance of Way Employees Division, issued a letter to members after the derailment, criticizing the company for "running a skeleton maintenance force"and projecting maintenance cuts next year.

"This means that more and more vital upkeep, maintenance and infrastructure renewal will be put off. This means that the infrastructure will continue to deteriorate and that the risks will continue to rise," wrote Brehl.

Feigel said maintenance workers were laid off in December, but he noted every laid-off employee has already been brought back. She said there are weekly inspections and that safety is a top priority.

In this economic slowdown, she said, there may be delays in building new tracks, but not in replacing track that needs it.

"There's no benefit to our railway to not maintain our tracks properly," she said.

The car that leaked will have its contents emptied into a truck and moved as soon as today.

Back at the hotel, biathlon participants were taken to a nearby hotel for breakfast.

Greek biathlete Kleahlhies Karamichas said news of the derailment was a concern for many of the participants who were planning on training for the event that had brought them to Canmore.

"It's not good. All the people, they have nerves. They want concentration before (the event) and this is not good," he said.