Railway safety mutual concern for councillors in Richmond Hill and Thornhill

'We represent heavily populated communities'

Yorkregion.com
May 7, 2015
By Lisa Queen

Three months after two rail cars derailed in Richmond Hill, three councillors from three separate municipalities say they are unable to reassure residents about the safety of trains carrying dangerous goods through York Region communities.

Markham Councillor Valerie Burke, Richmond Hill Councillor Godwin Chan and Vaughan Councillor Alan Shefman, who represent wards bordering Yonge Street, are raising concerns during Emergency Preparedness Week, May 3 to 9.

Two rail cars containing sheet steel and sulphuric acid derailed from the tracks in Richmond Hill in February. Although there were no spills and no one was injured, the incident highlighted possible dangers, the councillors said.

‘HEAVILY POPULATED’

“We represent heavily populated communities with significant railroad traffic constantly travelling through our residential neighbourhoods and we have no idea of the efforts being made to control and limit the amount of dangerous goods being transported,” Shefman, Vaughan’s Thornhill ward 5 councillor, said in a statement.

Chan agreed.

“We need to be in a position to reassure our residents that the risks of a catastrophic accident are declining,” the Richmond Hill councillor said.

“We can only do this with the collaborative actions by the rail regulators, rail companies, and all interested parties, such as the FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) national municipal rail safety working group.”

While the councillors applauded efforts made by Transport Canada to improve the safety of rail cars and are pleased with new rail safety legislation, more needs to be done, Chan said.

Rail safety has been a significant concern after a runaway train carrying crude oil derailed in Quebec two years ago, Burke said.

“The issue of railway safety has become a major issue for many municipalities in Canada since the Lac-Megantic tragedy in 2013 when 47 people lost their lives,” she said.

“We must have the federal government, through their regulatory role, and the railroad companies, as the operators, not only improve safety measures but they must be prepared to work with our municipalities to better inform us of what they are doing to protect our residents.”

York Region is home to significant rail traffic, the councillors said.

The CN McMillan yard in Vaughan, the largest in Canada, handles more than one million rail cars a year.

Vaughan is also home to the Canadian Pacific intermodal facility, which handles 700,000 units a year.

In addition, the CN rail running east of Yonge accommodates trains carrying goods and commuter GO trains.