NDP once again calls for inquiry into CN's safety practices

While CN cleans up the scattered grain cars from Monday's early morning derailment east of Terrace, the NDP opposition in British Columbia is once again calling for the Liberal government to hold a public inquiry into CN's safety record and practices in the province.

Monday's derailment which saw 29 of the 99 trains on the westbound train jump the tracks, was the third derailment on the Northern lines in six weeks.

A situation that the NDP says is unacceptable and needs to be addressed.

New Democrat MLA Maurine Karagianis, the opposition transportation critic, issued the call in light of the increased traffic that the Northern mainline will soon see due to the opening of the Fairview container port.

The call for any inquiry into CN's safety procedures has repeatedly been rebuffed by the provincial government in the past, which has played the "it's not our responsibility card" on some of the recent high profile derailments.

Karagianis, was in particular quite critical of Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon over the issue of rail safety suggesting that minister should "stop making excuses for CN and take decisive action to improve safety."

Falcon was out of the country on Monday an unavailable for comment regarding the latest trouble on the railways.

CN in the meantime, has issued a service advisory to its customers with a hopeful timetable of Tuesday to have the mainline back in service.

In a bit of irony, Monday was the day that CN officials made their presentation to Prince George city council, regarding the August derailment in that city and how they handled that particular local situation.

Judging by the frequency of late with rail problems, keeping that particular presentation group intact and up to date and ready to move from town to town, might be a worthwhile bit of corporate planning.

Though if the feedback from Prince George is any indication, a much better and reassuring bit of information sharing is not only desired but required. Something that the provincial government might wish to make note of, even if they sometimes tend to give the railways a fair share of latitude on these incidents.