Cullen On Track Against CN Crossing Blockage
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 @ 3:53 AM
Terrace, B.C. – Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen is stepping up his pressure on CN to do something to reduce wait times when trains block crossings.
After meeting with regional CN officials, Cullen says the next step is for the community to make their voices heard as well, and for CN to start consulting with communities to end the delays.
According to Cullen, there have been reports of trains blocking crossings for up to 100 minutes.
Freight traffic to and from the Prince Rupert Port has increased and Cullen says as the traffic increases, so do the instances of freight trains coming to a full stop, or stalling on important railway crossings that may be the only way in or out of a community.
Federal law prohibits trains from blocking a public crossing for more than 5 minutes at a time. Fines of up to $100 thousand dollar could be imposed.
Cullen is now urging those who experience a delay to contact his office, either by email (Nathan.cullen@parl.gc.ca) or by phone (1-888-622-0212) and to send a message to CN as well by phone at 1-888-888-5909, by email at contact@cn.ca, or by mail at CN Public Inquiry Line, 1200-360 Main Street, Winnipeg MB, R3C 3Z3.
Cullen has also called on the Minister of Transport, Denis Lebel, to begin enforcing penalties against CN when their trains obstruct public crossings. He has also been pressuring both parties to invest in new overpass infrastructure to reduce the number of grade level intersections of rail and roadways.
Comments
Good to see the NDP is looking out for the little guy, the only party that does.
” Federal law prohibits trains from blocking a public crossing for more than 5 minutes at a time. Fines of up to $100 thousand dollar could be imposed. “
really??? I guess they have never been fined for this despite the 10 to 15 minute waits at Boundary road……. usually at 8am….
Good old Nate still looking for his cause… :)
In all seriousness; why is he encouraging people to contact CN with their concerns? Since this is against the law shouldn’t a law enforcement agency be doing something about it? Send out an unmarked cop car and give the guy a stop watch. A couple of $100,000 fines might get CN’s attention.
While I agree that CN over time limit blockage of public road crossings should be dealt with…..it IS ironic that Mr. blockade himself (Cullen), who has persistently blocked every form of natural resource harvest he could find (and in turn, blocking jobs that would be created by that development)…is protesting this blockade of CN’s.
Although I think Cullen is right on this one…the amusing irony came across my mind and I had my morning smile made for me.
People “blocked” by trains? That ought to be good for about 8 votes.
Should not the CN gestapo be enforcing this law? Just wondering if they enforce laws against their employer? Oh right to busy writing speeding tickets no where near the railroad.
Same amount of time and effort should be spent on trains being blocked by people, maybe?
“People “blocked” by trains? That ought to be good for about 8 votes.”
In northern BC. In Washington State it is a big issue. Trains basically share corridors with the interstate as well as state highways so there are many crossings and the coal trains are very long as they are everywhere in NA.
I am just wondering when people block trains. Kind of a no brainer who is going to win that battle.
Now lets get something done about the thousands of animals killed on the tracks every winter.Everyone is wondering what happened to are moose population.
Any moose out there care to comment?
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