CN kicks off rail safety week

Reporting suspicious behaviour near railway tracks could be life-saving.

CN kicked off its North American-wide rail safety week in Thunder Bay by stopping vehicles near the James Street swing bridge Thursday to remind people of the dangers of crossing railways illegally. CN police officer Catherine Golding said CN and police want to educate the public.

"If the gates are down and a train has already passed but the gates are still down or a train is about to approach, you have to be patient. Wait for the gate and the lights and the bells to stop and then you can proceed," Golding said.

Pedestrians can also be a problem when crossing illegally, Golding said. Because much of CN’s tracks cut through the city, many people use the tracks as a shortcut, which could be fatal. In the last year, there were 261 accidents on CN tracks across Canada.

About 55 of the 71 fatalities reported in those accidents were trespassing related Golding said.

"It is a large problem," she said. "We find a lot of people walking down the tracks … it’s not only illegal but it is very dangerous and it can cost you your life."

Golding reminds people to only cross at designated crossings and not use any CN property to get where they need to go. To report trespassing and other illegal activity, the public can call the CN police at 1-800-465-9239.