CN Police will be out in force across Canada and the USA this week in a safety blitz designed to emphasize the risks involved in travel near rail lines. Part of Rail Safety Week, the railway’s police officers will be watching local crossing areas to ensure that residents understand the dangers that can come when trains, cars and people mix.
This issue is a particularly controversial one in Prince Rupert, as the largest stretch of waterfront land borders along a large CN Rail siding close to the downtown area. From Seafest activities to people looking for a stretch of road to walk or run, the rail lines and people seem to intersect more here, than in most Canadian cities.
With a waterfront park in the east and the main walkway to Moresby Park traveling along the CN lines to the west, the need to cross the railway occurs at a couple of locations. In the past it has led to a number of bad feelings between the CN Police and local residents, each of whom interpret right of travel in different ways.
The Daily News presented CN’s briefing on what the safety blitz means for Prince Rupert with a story in Monday’s paper.
‘DON’T LET SHORTCUT CUT YOUR LIFE SHORT’ SAYS CN
By Leanne Ritchie
This issue is a particularly controversial one in Prince Rupert, as the largest stretch of waterfront land borders along a large CN Rail siding close to the downtown area. From Seafest activities to people looking for a stretch of road to walk or run, the rail lines and people seem to intersect more here, than in most Canadian cities.
With a waterfront park in the east and the main walkway to Moresby Park traveling along the CN lines to the west, the need to cross the railway occurs at a couple of locations. In the past it has led to a number of bad feelings between the CN Police and local residents, each of whom interpret right of travel in different ways.
The Daily News presented CN’s briefing on what the safety blitz means for Prince Rupert with a story in Monday’s paper.
‘DON’T LET SHORTCUT CUT YOUR LIFE SHORT’ SAYS CN
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, April 23, 2007
Pages one and three
Given that CN expects to see four added trains moving to and from Prince Rupert when the Fairview Container Terminal opens in October, the rail company is hoping people will understand the importance of rail safety.
“There will be an increase in traffic once the port opens and it’s important, very important for people to be cognizant of rail crossings,” said Kelli Svendsen, CN Rail spokesperson.
CN will be emphasizing the deadly risks of trespassing on railway property across Canada and the United States for the next seven days, Rail Safety Week.
CN Police officers will be out in force this week, conducting their annual safety blitz operations at highway crossings in about 100 locations across Canada and the US, alerting motorists to the importance of safety at crossings and to the dire consequences of trespassing on railway property.
Svendsen noted that while crossing related fatalities have dropped, the number of deaths and serious injuries for people trespassing on rail property remains high.
“Trespassing on railway tracks and in rail yards is dangerous and illegal and CN Police officers strictly enforce regulations by issuing tickets to trespassers.
“However, railway properties are extremely large and spread out and it is very difficult to stop trespassing. Enforcement is not enough – education can help reduce fatalities,” said CN police Chief Serge Meloche. “This is why we are increasing our efforts to inform people of the very serious risks they take when trespassing.”
Trespassing includes walking, playing or running on or beside railway tracks, driving a bike, a car, an ATV, a snowmobile or any other vehicle on or beside railway tracks; taking a shortcut across railway tracks or railway property or entering railway yards at any time.
Some incidents of concern involving rail trespassing in Prince Rupert and Port Edward, as noted in letters to the editor by Dave Walker, include young people climbing on or under parked rail cars down by the Prince Rupert waterfront, while trains are coming to or from the Via Rail station and a person who approached the tracks at the North Pacific Cannery while a train was moving through the area.
In both instances tragedy was narrowly averted, but they are vivid reminders not to trespass on railway property and rail cars.
Recent statistics reveal that trespassing incidents claimed 58 lives in Canada in 2006, remaining at a constant yearly average during the past decade, while fatalities due to crossing collisions were down to 28, reflecting a steady improvement during the same period.
Statistics also show that in 2006, 93 per cent of trespassing incidents resulted in death or serious injuries (63 per cent fatalities and 30 per cent serious injuries.)
Every year, CN does outreach in different communities across North America. In the Northwest, this year’s event will take place in Terrace on Kenny Street and Highway 16 on Thursday from 10 a. m. until noon.
“Our message is quite clear: Don’t put yourself at risk by trespassing on railway property. In other words, don’t let a shortcut cut your life short. Acting responsibly and safely is the right thing to do and it is everyone’s responsibility, said Meloche.
Given that CN expects to see four added trains moving to and from Prince Rupert when the Fairview Container Terminal opens in October, the rail company is hoping people will understand the importance of rail safety.
“There will be an increase in traffic once the port opens and it’s important, very important for people to be cognizant of rail crossings,” said Kelli Svendsen, CN Rail spokesperson.
CN will be emphasizing the deadly risks of trespassing on railway property across Canada and the United States for the next seven days, Rail Safety Week.
CN Police officers will be out in force this week, conducting their annual safety blitz operations at highway crossings in about 100 locations across Canada and the US, alerting motorists to the importance of safety at crossings and to the dire consequences of trespassing on railway property.
Svendsen noted that while crossing related fatalities have dropped, the number of deaths and serious injuries for people trespassing on rail property remains high.
“Trespassing on railway tracks and in rail yards is dangerous and illegal and CN Police officers strictly enforce regulations by issuing tickets to trespassers.
“However, railway properties are extremely large and spread out and it is very difficult to stop trespassing. Enforcement is not enough – education can help reduce fatalities,” said CN police Chief Serge Meloche. “This is why we are increasing our efforts to inform people of the very serious risks they take when trespassing.”
Trespassing includes walking, playing or running on or beside railway tracks, driving a bike, a car, an ATV, a snowmobile or any other vehicle on or beside railway tracks; taking a shortcut across railway tracks or railway property or entering railway yards at any time.
Some incidents of concern involving rail trespassing in Prince Rupert and Port Edward, as noted in letters to the editor by Dave Walker, include young people climbing on or under parked rail cars down by the Prince Rupert waterfront, while trains are coming to or from the Via Rail station and a person who approached the tracks at the North Pacific Cannery while a train was moving through the area.
In both instances tragedy was narrowly averted, but they are vivid reminders not to trespass on railway property and rail cars.
Recent statistics reveal that trespassing incidents claimed 58 lives in Canada in 2006, remaining at a constant yearly average during the past decade, while fatalities due to crossing collisions were down to 28, reflecting a steady improvement during the same period.
Statistics also show that in 2006, 93 per cent of trespassing incidents resulted in death or serious injuries (63 per cent fatalities and 30 per cent serious injuries.)
Every year, CN does outreach in different communities across North America. In the Northwest, this year’s event will take place in Terrace on Kenny Street and Highway 16 on Thursday from 10 a. m. until noon.
“Our message is quite clear: Don’t put yourself at risk by trespassing on railway property. In other words, don’t let a shortcut cut your life short. Acting responsibly and safely is the right thing to do and it is everyone’s responsibility, said Meloche.
No comments:
Post a Comment