Kim Thompson
Special to The Province; The Canadian Press

SQUAMISH -- A Squamish councillor says yesterday's derailment of a CN Rail train in Cheakamus Canyon -- the second in less than three months -- is a result of negligence by CN.

"We need to find the cause of these derailments and CN needs to be more accountable," said Coun. Raj Kahlon.

"The canyon is a tough train route and requires smaller trains at slower speeds.

"We are lucky these cars weren't holding toxic chemicals.

"Something must be done because I don't want to see all of our fish dying again."

Said Squamish Mayor Ian Sutherland: "I don't have a comfort level with CN. Today's derailment highlights the fact that trains have challenges going through the Cheakamus Canyon.

"Safety experts are aware of our concerns and we are letting them deal with it from a science point of view."

Nine empty lumber cars plunged into the canyon at 11:30 a.m.

They landed about 500 metres away from the Cheakamus River.

The cars, part of a 122-car train, tumbled off the track 30 kilometres north of Squamish, the site of August's derailment of a 144-car CN freight train.

In the August derailment, nine cars tumbled into the canyon and one split open, spilling highly-acidic caustic soda into the river.

It raised pH levels and killed nearly every species of fish in its wake, including steelhead, pinks, lamprey eels and chinook.

As a result of the spill, several local governments -- including the District of North Vancouver and the Squamish Lillooet Regional District -- passed motions saying they are concerned by CN Rail practices. That accident is still under investigation by the Transport Ministry.

CN crews had the line back in operation by last night.

Graham Dallas of CN said there were no injuries, no environmental damage, and the cause of the derailment is unknown.

"We are always reviewing our operations from a safety perspective," Dallas said.

"In this case we will be carrying out rigorous investigation and will take appropriate steps to make sure this does not happen again."

The Squamish Environmental Conservation Society is seeking support from local governments for a petition to the federal government calling for a progressive penalty system for corporations causing repeated environmental damage.

The Squamish Lillooet Regional District yesterday supported the proposal.

"It makes a lot of sense to penalize these companies," Sutherland said. "The ultimate concern is to make sure CN does not escape possible fines."

This is the 10th derailment for CN in the last three months.

In the worst, 700,000 litres of oil spilled into a lake near Edmonton in August. CN estimates it will cost $28 million to clean it up.

© The Vancouver Province 2005