Jan 02, 2014 in News Rail Accidents

Rail Accidents: New train directive introduced to keep train routes safer

[caption id="attachment_5717" align="alignright" width="300"] (Photo credit: G_FORDHAM/SXC)[/caption]

Train derailments can lead to dangerous situations for both train operators and residents of the surrounding cities that they travel through.

In Canada, there's been a recent string of train derailments by both CP and CN in the past year. This has led federal transportation minister Lisa Raitt to introduce new rules for railway companies that requires them to inform municipalities when they're traveling through with dangerous goods.

Municipalities will be given yearly updates about the type of dangerous goods that cross inside their borders and the volume of these goods. They'll also be told about any major changes. Large railways will be required to breakdown the information and provide quarterly updates, while smaller railways will be required to provide all their data each year.

The new protective direction takes effect immediately and it hopes to ensure better communication between rail companies and municipalities. It also arms local first responders with information that can help them prepare for an accident, a spokesperson for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities told the Globe and Mail.

These changes come after a deadly train derailment in Lac Megantic, Que., in early July that led to the deaths of 47 people and the train was carrying 7.6 million litres of crude oil. The derailment destroyed half of the city's downtown core and it's estimated that about six million litres of crude oil burned or spilled during the incident. While the government has spent months cleaning up the Chaudi?re River near the crash site, unfortunately the area may remain tainted, say two Quebec environmental groups.

The city's train tracks have begun running again, but the cleanup is expected to continue until February of 2014. Transport Canada continues to investigate the incident and media reports suggest that there may be a federal prosecution against the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway company.

There are about 19,000 kilometres of railway track weaving throughout Ontario's cities and small towns.

Personal damages resulting from a train derailment is a part of personal injury law. At Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers, we have over 40 years of experience in handling all types of accidents. We know the impacts injuries have on your life and your family's and we know how to help you. Call us at 416-920-4242. Set up a free consultation and come talk with us.