A Moment with the Mayor: Railway Safety

Our community is like many across the Prairies and across the country. The railway tracks that stretch from coast to coast led to towns springing up as centres for trade and connection. The railway also helped bring British Columbia into Confederation. For many families moving west, the iron horse made the journey possible.

We have come a long way from the early days when the railway was the main way to move farm products and the supplies needed to produce them. The railway sustained families, supported the economy, and was a lifeline to tidewater on both coasts.

As a community built on agriculture, with grain, oilseed, and livestock, our exports grew to include oil and gas production, upgrading, and refining. Each of these industries has relied on the railway to move products to market.

Railway safety is important for both the people who work on the trains and those of us who cross the tracks each day. Trains run 24 hours a day, year-round, often passing through town during busy commute times.

Railway crossings remain one of the most common places for accidents. Trains today are longer, heavier, and take a long time to slow down or stop.

The need to pay attention around railway lines has never been greater. Many crossings have lights, bells and crossing arms, but many others do not. Pedestrians and cyclists face risks as well. Safety matters. Stay alert whenever you are near train tracks. It is not easy to judge how fast a train is moving. Please remember look, listen, and live.

If you experience an issue or an emergency at a crossing, contact the railway immediately:
•    CN Police: 1-800-465-9239
•    CP Police: 1-800-716-9132

Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers
City of Lloydminster