CPKC train derailment near Cranbrook triggers evacuations

CPKC train derailment near Cranbrook on Saturday morning led to the evacuation of several properties along the Kootenay River, as reported by VictoriaNow. In total, five properties were cleared under the evacuation order.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

CPKC train derailment near Cranbrook and Kootenay River evacuation

According to Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), the Cranbrook train derailment occurred at about 7 a.m., roughly 16 kilometres east of the city, when around a dozen railcars left the tracks. The consist included cars carrying wood products and tanker cars loaded with propane, and no injuries have been reported following the CPKC train derailment near Cranbrook.

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In response to the incident, the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) issued an evacuation order for five properties located northwest of Bull River, in the area of the Kootenay River and Fenwick Road. Regional emergency operations centre director Christina Carbrey said that “tactical evacuation was performed by RCMP and CP Police in response to the evolving situation,” as officers went door to door to support the Kootenay River evacuation.

RDEK state of emergency and TSB investigation

Because of the evacuation order, the RDEK also declared a state of emergency for Electoral Area C, a step that is required when an evacuation order is issued. This status gives local authorities additional tools to manage the impacts of the Cranbrook train derailment and the ongoing evacuation.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) announced earlier in the day that it is deploying investigators to examine the derailment. CPKC has sent crews and equipment to the site to carry out a full assessment and begin cleaning up the area, while the railway says the cause of the derailment remains under investigation.

Earlier this month, a CPKC train derailed outside Kamloops and spilled more than 70,000 litres of aviation fuel, a case also covered by Railway Supply. Work is continuing along Kamloops Lake to clean up the aftermath of that derailment, according to updates on the B.C. government’s spill response website, adding further attention to recent CPKC incidents in the region.

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