Alberta RCMP are doing their part to support Rail Safety Week in Canada.

Alberta had the second-highest number of reported incidents of trespassing related to rail lines per province in 2019 with 14 total, 13 of which resulted in serious injury or death.

Rail safety is particularly important in communities like Okotoks which have rail lines running through the centre of town and trains going through several times a day.

Canadian Pacific Police Service Sergeant, Rupert Sutherland, says the rail bridge over the Sheep River presents a few dangers.

"Unfortunately, every year in the summer months, we still see a large number of people playing on that bridge and around the water in that area. Rail bridges are designed specifically for trains. Typically there's not a lot of space either side of the rails for people to be on. Typically with the Sheep River, depending on the time of year, it can either be extremely fast-flowing and very dangerous were someone to fall or jump off it to get out the way of a train, or it can be extremely shallow, and there are obviously risk implications for that."

He says the best way to avoid a run-in with a train is simply to stick to designated crossings.

"The vast majority of those people who have those incidents are the result of trespassing, which is really anything from walking down the middle of the track or playing in yards, to simply crossing the track just to take a shortcut, and the vast majority of these people don't anticipate they're the ones going to get hit by a train."

Not only is trespassing on tracks an arrestable offence under the Railway Safety Act, as well as Alberta's Petty Trespass Act, but it also presents several risks that can result in injury or death.

Multiple tripping hazards are present on active rail lines including equipment, switch points, and slick surfaces in the winter.

Sutherland says the practice of walking along a track with headphones on is another common occurrence.

He says people can sometimes overestimate the safety of rail lines.

"The noises now are different than they used to be, and certainly not as loud to give warning to people. Likewise, trains can and do move extremely fast. It can be difficult to judge the speed of a train. That's why all crossing should be done at the legal controlled crossings, they're designed to keep people safe."

The commonly held belief that trains operate on a strict schedule is another factor that leads to incidents, and one Sutherland was sure to emphasize.

"We always try and instill within people: any time you see a track, think train, and any time can be train time; certainly within Okotoks."

 

Questions, comments, or story ideas? Email news@okotoksonline.com