Is the cessation of GO train whistles worth the million dollar price tag?

YorkRegion.com
July 5, 2017 2:00
Teresa Latchford

Silence the train whistle or let it blow?

It’s literally the million-dollar question York Region municipalities have been pondering. Markham has already made the decision to stop GO train whistles blowing at 13 of its level crossings, which will cost taxpayers $6 million to conform to Transport Canada’s safety regulations. The Town of Aurora recently reviewed a report recommending the initiation of the process for two of the four crossings in town (the other two being the responsibility of York Region), which could cost just under $1.9 million when all is said and done. King Township is hoping to make level crossing improvements at Station Road no later than 2019 to stop whistles. All of these were initiated by resident complaints.

While Vaughan and Georgina haven’t had the conversation about GO trains, residents have petitioned and complained on numerous occasions about the use of train whistles by the CN Railway trains.

Richmond Hill and East Gwillimbury have no plans to do the same at this time.

“Kill the horns or minimize the amount of time it blows,” Nancy Day wrote in a social media post. “Newmarket is horrific weekends now horns till midnight and during the week 5:30 a.m. I understand it’s for safety but wow households of people and children, I can't even open my windows at night.”

Markham residents were fighting to have an 11 p.m. train cancelled due to the noise at night.

But not all York Region residents are convinced banishing the use of train whistles is necessary, especially when it comes to such a costly alternative.

“First world problems, this is ridiculous,” Manda Sherman wrote in a social media post. “I’ve lived near the train tracks for the past 10 years and I don’t even register hearing them anymore. My children’s bedroom window faces the tracks and it never bothers or wakes them.”

Others support the status quo as an effective safety feature for crossings and others pointed out that the tracks most likely existed before the homes in many circumstances. One stated it was better to be safe than sorry.

The Canadian Rail Operating Rules require all trains to whistle when approaching a public-grade crossing to warn motorists, cyclists and pedestrians safe.

However, these whistles can be a nuisance to residents living near the train tracks. With the 15-minute train service coming to the Barrie line in the future, this could mean four whistles an hour.

But in order to stop the whistling at public-grade crossings, Transport Canada requires railway companies and road authorities to collaborate in finding the best option for making crossings safe under procedures set out in the Federal Railway Safety Act and Regulation.

Following the completion of what is required, the whistling could still be used at the train crews’ discretion for emergencies.

Depending on what is agreed upon, municipalities could foot the bill for maze barriers, lights, pedestrian gates and railway arms, not to mention taking on the legal responsibility for claims that arise as a result of the elimination of the whistle.