CALGARY – Emergency crews were called to the scene of a train derailment in the community of Inglewood on Thursday.
Up to 14 train cars derailed in the area of 15 Street and 19 Avenue S.E., near Alyth yard, at around 6:20 a.m.
Officials said the train cars were travelling at a very slow speed and that all of them were empty, except one, which was carrying “vegetable product.”
No injuries were reported, according to EMS.
Police closed area roads and advised drivers to use alternate routes.
“It was a big problem, obviously, for a lot of commuters,” CP Rail spokesman Martin Cej said. “CP does apologize for that.”
Jen Martinell recalls the last time this happened — September of 2013.
The same year as the infamous southern Alberta floods, a train jumped the tracks and forced an emergency evacuation, outraging area residents.
“From what I hear from some of the neighbours, people are concerned and a lot of negative comments are going around,” said Martinell.
Those negative comments have reached the ears of many at City Hall.
“The last time when it took place at this (location), there was a real old school wiggle (in the tracks) and I think … (CP Rail) CEO Hunter Harrison was like, that ain’t (sic) good railroading and put in a much better geometry,” said Gian-Carlo Carra, the Ward 9 councillor. “And so the fact that it failed is a little bit interesting.”
“There will be, obviously, a full investigation,” Cej said. “We need to find out exactly why these cars derailed. When we find that out, we will of course be sharing that with the public.”
At least one power pole was hit during the course of the derailment, causing a power line to tumble down onto some train cars. The incident resulted in area power outages.
Enmax was called to the scene to repair the downed power line.
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