Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 2/8/2013 (2092 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
On a daily basis some of the most dangerous and toxic chemicals in the world barrel through Brandon on railway tracks just metres from homes, schools, parks and businesses.
But just what chemicals fill those tankers is a difficult question to answer.
According to Canadian Pacific Rail spokesman Andy Cummings, it's a delicate issue.
"That is a sensitive question and for security reasons we aren't going to be able to provide you with the specifics that you are looking for," Cummings said when asked to provide a list of what hazardous goods go through Brandon on CPR track.
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Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/8/2013 (2092 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
BRUCE BUMSTEAD/BRANDON SUN
Rail cars sit next to the tracks after a 2010 derailment in Brandon.
On a daily basis some of the most dangerous and toxic chemicals in the world barrel through Brandon on railway tracks just metres from homes, schools, parks and businesses.
But just what chemicals fill those tankers is a difficult question to answer.
According to Canadian Pacific Rail spokesman Andy Cummings, it's a delicate issue.
"That is a sensitive question and for security reasons we aren't going to be able to provide you with the specifics that you are looking for," Cummings said when asked to provide a list of what hazardous goods go through Brandon on CPR track.
The Canadian Railway Association recently estimated as many as 140,000 carloads of crude oil are expected to travel over the nation's tracks this year, up from only 500 carloads in 2009.
Some of that oil will come from a new facility in Cromer, where a facility will be designed to handle 30,000 barrels of crude per day, with plans to expand to 60,000 barrels per day.
Cummings said there is a plan in place in the event of a derailment.
"There is a process in place in which our railway ensures local officials and emergency responders have access to that information and we do work directly with them."
CN spokesman Mark Hallman felt equally compelled to keep the information out of the public's hands, choosing not to provide a list of dangerous goods.
"CN shares with responsible authorities, including municipal officials and responders, information on what commodities are handled through their jurisdiction," Hallman said.
"This is done to assist municipal emergency planners and responders in developing effective and realistic emergency response plans."
The information is only provided to emergency responders, however, if they acknowledge making the list public would be a security risk and they sign a document stating the list will only be used for emergency planning.
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While the information is available, it isn't in municipal or police leaders' hands in Brandon.
Allison Collins, the city's communications director, confirmed the city has not been provided "with any list of dangerous goods by the rail companies."
Const. Ron Burgess, with the Brandon Police Service, said they aren't provided any dangerous goods list from the rail companies either.
A representative from the Brandon Fire Department said they aren't provided a list. At times, the department is made aware if a hazardous chemical is going to be stored in Brandon, but there is no list of potentially dangerous goods on the rail line.
Brandon Mayor Shari Decter Hirst told the Brandon Sun she hoped to get "a deeper understanding of the kinds of goods being transported through the city" during a meeting with a dangerous goods official from CN.
— Brandon Sun
A look at some of the train wrecks and derailments in the Westman area
Jan. 1, 2013: A Canadian Pacific Rail freight train derails on New Year's Day in Brandon near the First Street overpass. No one is injured in the three-car derailment.
April 30, 2011: Twenty-three cars left the CN track about 48 kilometres southeast of St. Lazare. In total, 41 containers were involved in the derailment, 11 of which were loaded with unidentified but "non-dangerous" cargo while the other 30 were empty.
No one was injured and there were no environmental issues.
Aug. 24, 2010: Five cars -- two loaded with grain and three holding sodium chlorite -- derailed in Brandon under the Eighth Street Bridge. No one was injured in the derailment and no cargo was spilled.
Feb. 11, 2010: Fifty-seven cars carrying potash to the U.S. came off the tracks in the RM of Daly about 16 km west of Rivers. Trevor Peters, who works at a grain elevator near the derailment, said: "It sounded like the train was actually coming into the elevator," as the cars piled up.
Sept. 4, 2009: Grain cars and locomotives lay in a twisted wreck after a train derailed south of Carberry. The derailment was caused by a semi trailer hitting the train. No one was injured in the accident, which crushed the second rig of the double-long semi.
Oct. 22, 2008: Four cars containing anhydrous ammonia were among train cars that left the track in Brandon. There were no leaks but students at six nearby schools and area residents were told to stay indoors. The derailment forced the city to re-examine its emergency plan.
Dec. 2, 2005: A CN train derailed about five kilometres west of Brandon. There were no injuries when the train of approximately 50 cars left the tracks.
Nov. 7, 2002: No one was injured in a CPR derailment that saw 18 boxcars careen off the rails, tearing up about 300 metres of track in the process in Newdale.
The 52-car train was carrying only grain. Several boxcars flew off the rails landing side-by-side, shredded and spilling barley.
May 2, 2002: A large fire engulfed five derailed tank cars carrying dangerous goods after a train collided with a tractor-trailer and came off the tracks near Firdale. Four of the five cars suffered punctures and released products forcing a total of 156 people to be evacuated for two days from the area of the derailed train, which was 21 freight cars in length. There were no significant injuries.
Oct. 1, 2001: Nine cars, including two loaded tank cars of methanol and one loaded with vinyl acetate, derailed near Kemnay. As a precaution, 69 people were evacuated from Kemnay because of the hazardous goods. No injuries or release of product occurred in the derailment.
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