Airdrie RCMP say they have responded to two trespassing calls and two collisions involving trains in the past five years, as Alberta marks Rail Safety Week from Sept. 15 to 21.
Since 2020, local members have also handled other rail-related calls. In a written response, Airdrie RCMP listed: “2 Trespassing, 2 Collisions, 3 Cows on track, 1 broken down train, 3 lights malfunction, 1 hazard on track.”
“No tickets/charges most with people were gone upon our arrival. The majority of our railway calls are not persons,” Airdrie RCMP said in a written response.
On who takes command at rail incidents, the detachment wrote: “It would depend the incident if it’s a person related event it would be RCMP, with CN, RVC and Fire assisting. If it is a train/light malfunction CN would take the command and us and Fire would assist with traffic.”
In a written response, CN Police Insp. Brian Jones, CN Police Mountain Division, stated: “We would have no incident numbers for Airdrie proper as CN tracks do not run through City of Airdrie.”
Jones wrote there has been one reported CN train-versus-vehicle collision in Rocky View County since 2020 — at the Township Road 254 crossing (Delacour) in late June 2023. He added that between 2017 and 2020 there were two collisions at the Highway 566 crossing south of Kathyrn, and another two on Township Road 250, just south of the CN facility north of Conrich.
“Near misses are not recorded in those tallies that I shared with you, and trespassing numbers would be included if there was an incident where a trespasser was, in fact, struck by a train,” Jones said in an interview.
“There is some good news in those numbers, that within Rocky View County specifically and involving a CN train, there’s only been one collision between a train and a vehicle,” he said. “Despite the low number of collisions close to home, that need for safety goes with them wherever they go.”
On coordination with CPKC, Jones said: “From a reporting perspective, both railways report into the federal government and to Transport Canada … our officers are in frequent contact and sharing information … but … there is a potential for both police services not to have the most fullest picture … and so that’s why … we will sometimes work together for joint forces operations.”
Jones said two CN Police officers based in Calgary cover tracks from Calgary to Rocky Mountain House to Mirror and south.
“We believe in a high visibility enforcement so that we have our marked vehicles at those crossing[s] so motorists see us and … will operate safely over that crossing,” he said.
“For example, if they’re heading up to Rocky Mountain House or Sylvan, they’ll try to have them travel on those roads that parallel, that are close to our tracks,” Jones said.
“Driver behaviors, impatience and … operating unsafely around crossings would be some of those common themes that are leading to collision numbers between vehicles and trains,” he said.
“Unfortunately, a large part of our time, certainly during this time of the year, is spent dealing with trespassing, with unhoused individuals who were … setting up temporary emplacements on CN right away [sic],” Jones said.
“Regardless of the community, our officers aren’t necessarily patrolling, but they’re travelling through the county to get to those locations to work with the local authorities in dealing with the unhoused encampments that will sometimes crop up on rail right away [sic: right of way].”
On command at incidents, Jones said: “Oftentimes [RCMP] are on the scene first and begin … the investigation into the causal factors for that collision, or if there was a trespasser strike, and that helps advance the investigation. It’s an impartial investigation, and really one of our key goals is to restore rail operations as safely and as quickly as we can following full investigation. From a background perspective, we can supply some of the technical knowledge, the crew information for that train, and then we’re able to provide critical video evidence from the locomotive.”
Rocky View County said there were 261 railway crossing and trespassing incidents nationally in 2024, resulting in 68 deaths and 58 serious injuries.
Alberta RCMP said there were 35 reported collisions at railway crossings across the province in 2024, resulting in 12 fatalities.
“Being alert at all times at railroad crossings is critical to protecting yourself and anyone else in the vehicle,” said Jones in a provincial news release.
“Collisions with trains are often preventable,” said Sgt. Leigh Drinkwater, Alberta RCMP Traffic, in the same release. “By being aware of train tracks and staying cautious around trains, you can help avoid becoming a victim.”
“It comes down to individual decisions that are made daily … patience and guarding against complacency … always be aware, always be looking and listening, because there may be a train the next time,” Jones said.
“For those people that feel drawn to trespassing on railroad tracks for walking the dog or taking a shortcut … complacency may result in a serious or life altering injury.”
CN Police can be reached at 1-800-465-9239.
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