For the second time in three months, a train has derailed along the CN Rail Westlock Sub-Line.
At approximately 2:30 a.m. Dec. 17, 17 cars of a 100-car southbound train jumped the track in Fawcett — near RR 14 and 13A and running parallel to TWP 642A.
According to CN Rail spokesperson Kate Fenske, only wheat was spilled in the accident and there were no injuries reported.
“Crews worked throughout the day to remove the cars and repair the tracks so the rail line could be reopened,” said Fenske. “The cause of the incident remains under investigation.”
There was a close call, however. The majority of the derailment happened in front of the home of Diane Kochan. There, 15 cars piled up right next to the power pole that runs electricity to her home, which is less than 75 feet away from her front door.
Kochan told the News that she was woken by terrible crashing noises and looked out her window to see the cars still piling up.
Crews and heavy equipment from as far away as Red Deer were at work throughout the day in the frigid -33C weather, clearing the wreckage and laying new track. The south-side crossing of the track at RR 13A re-opened at 10 p.m. Dec. 17.
This is the third derailment in Westlock County in 2016. On Oct. 7, a train derailed in Pickardville, spilling grain, lumber and salt and cutting off access to the hamlet for the day. A train also derailed near Westlock Feb. 14. There were no injuries reported in either incident.
According to the Transportation Safety Board, as of Dec. 17 there had been 73 derailments in the province, not including the derailment in Fawcett.
Under the Federal Rail Safety Act, trains moving through areas with populations of 10,000 people or more have a maximum speed limit of 40 m.p.h. or 64 km/h. The speed limit for trains outside of populated areas is 50 m.p.h. or 80 km/h,
The Westlock Sub-Line runs from Smith, where it connects with the Slave Lake line through Westlock and terminates in Edmonton.
