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By Gates Guarin

Rail Safety Week emphasizes prevention and education

Sep 20, 2022 | 4:40 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – In North America, it is estimated that about 2,100 injuries or deaths occur every year when people cross railroad tracks or trespass on rail yard grounds. One hundred of those deaths occur here in Canada.

It’s with these statistics in mind that Canadian Pacific Railway has partnered with U.S.-based Amtrak and Operation Lifesaver, a non-profit organization created to educate the public on rail safety, to hold Rail Safety Week.

CP Rail is reminding the public that safety is paramount when in the presence of a locomotive, which weighs more than 110 tonnes. In Medicine Hat, where tracks and train cars are abundant, safety becomes key.

CP Rail officers are partnering with local law enforcement, bylaw and transit officers across the country to share pamphlets and information, and officers have already been making their way through cities like Lethbridge, Calgary and Medicine Hat.

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Const. Tat Ng of CP Rail says while incidents can occur at any time, almost all are preventable.

“We want to reinforce that off you stay off of railway property, tracks the railway tracks, and don’t shortcut through our railroad tracks and obey all the signs on our railway property, everyone will be better off and safe,” Ng says.

Ng says the timing of the week is significant, as it coincides with children returning to school. He says kids may trespass on railway property without knowing and wants to stress the importance of both staying alert and avoiding the shortcut altogether.

Ng also shared some statistics, like a train moving at 100 kilometres an hour takes two kilometres to stop, so always give plenty of time and space when crossing marked areas of the track.

“We want to minimize any public injuries or deaths that are occurring on our railway properties, and education is the best way to do it, but sometimes we have to do enforcement, and we really want the messaging out there, not only for this week but 365 days a year to be safe around the railways,” Ng adds.

For more information on Rail Safety Week, you can visit CP Rail’s website, or check out Operation Lifesaver.