With warmer weather drawing more people outdoors, CN Police are reminding residents of the Municipality of Rosser — and communities across the Prairies — to stay alert around railway tracks.
While CN’s Oak Point and Lilyfield subdivisions run into the RM of Rosser, the main line in the area belongs to CPKC. Still, CN Police say railway safety is universal — and they work closely with safety partners like CPKC to spread consistent messaging and prevent incidents.
“Rail safety is a shared responsibility,” said Const. Michael Reid, a community relations officer with CN Police’s Prairie Division. “When railways operate through communities across this country, they are required to do so safely — but that’s only half of the equation. We also need all members of the public to do their part.”
That includes following laws around railway infrastructure — whether at level crossings or near railway property.
“As summer approaches, we want everyone to enjoy the outdoors, but do so safely,” said Reid. “Railway tracks and railway property are not walking paths or shortcuts. Trespassing on railway property is illegal.”
Each year, CN Police respond to serious incidents and fatalities in Manitoba — all of which Reid says are preventable.
“Staying off railway property, only crossing tracks at designated level crossings, and obeying the Highway Traffic Act when driving are the easiest ways to prevent these incidents from occurring,” he said.
Rail safety is especially relevant for Manitoba farmers, whose work often involves moving large machinery across rural tracks.
“Farmers play a vital role in our economy,” said Reid. “When approaching tracks, we need them to be alert and expect a train every time. Know your equipment, its length, and that it can safely cross. Make sure wheels cross at 90 degrees and hitch pins are secure.”
If there’s any doubt, he added, operators should contact the railway for help with non-standard equipment.
Municipalities can also play a key role in promoting rail safety, Reid said, by sharing safety information through newsletters, websites and social media.
“Municipalities are some of our greatest partners,” he said. “We encourage all communities to proclaim Rail Safety Week — the last week of every September — and for residents to take the Rail Safety Pledge at www.MySafetyPledge.com.”
Reid said complacency is one of the biggest risks around tracks.
“People think, ‘How could you possibly get hit by a train?’ But in my experience, the answer is almost always distraction,” he said.
No one expects it to happen to them, yet it happened 25 times in Manitoba last year.
“We’ve all driven to work and not remembered part of the trip because we were thinking about something else. That lapse in situational awareness can be the difference between life and death.”
The weight ratio between a train and an average vehicle is 4,000 to 1 — the same as a vehicle hitting a pop can. And while drivers can steer, trains can’t.
“It takes a train about two kilometres to stop,” Reid said. “It’s up to the public to ensure they’re not fouling the tracks.”
One key piece of advice Reid hopes all residents remember: every public railway crossing in North America has a blue emergency notification sign.
“This sign has the railway’s emergency number and location details,” he said. “If something dangerous is happening near the tracks, that’s the number to call. They’re the only ones who can notify rail traffic controllers to slow or stop trains if needed.”
For more information or to access rail safety resources, Reid can be reached at Michael.Reid@cn.ca.
