THUNDER BAY - A Thunder Bay Transit bus got a little too close for comfort for passengers when it stopped beyond the gate at a train crossing.
Early Tuesday afternoon, Kenneth Jones was on the bus travelling down Victoria Avenue. As it approached the train crossing near Waterloo Street, Jones said the driver braked suddenly.
“The bus did a full stop and along with this, about 10 seconds later, I see this train whizzing by,” Jones said. "The bus came within one or two feet of this train crossing at full speed."
In a video recorded by Jones with his cell phone, the train can be seen moving through the crossing and the crossing gate resting on top of the bus.
“It was right in front of the tracks,” Jones said. “It stopped just short of the tracks. And (the driver) commented that he can’t move back.” Jones added there were no vehicles directly behind the bus at that time.
Jones said he called a hotline number located in the bus and reported the incident. Brad Loroff, manager of the Transit Services Division with the city, said he is aware of the incident and an investigation will be conducted to determine how and why this incident happened. He added that there were no reported injuries or damage to the bus.
The penalty for failing to stop at a train crossing can include a fine of up to $110 and a driver can receive three demerit points.
Most train crossings will signal traffic to stop 30 seconds before a train enters the crossing, with the gates being fully lowered 15 to 20 seconds before.
As for Jones, he said the incident has left him and other passengers on the bus a little shaken. He added that he will probably be looking to other transportation methods to get around the city.
“I don’t want my life to be in danger like this again,” he said.
