MONTREAL – A woman in Vaudreuil is lucky to be alive after her car got stuck on a railway crossing Thursday evening.
Just before 7 p.m. the motorist was driving on 3rd Ave. in Terrasse-Vaudreuil when she somehow got stuck between two closed railway crossing barriers, just as an AMT train was approaching.
The woman was able to run out of her car to safety just in time.
The train however was not able to stop and rammed into her car, pushing it along the tracks.
Police are now investigating the incident.
Many commuters who take the AMT train complain the level crossing has been a problem for years.
Four sets of tracks separated by an open space make it very difficult for some people to cross.
“Every time I pass by I’m stressed out,” one AMT passenger said while waiting for the train.
An estimated one hundred trains travel over the level crossing every day, with Via Rail, the AMT, CP and CN freight trains all use the tracks.
Barriers, lights and bells warn people every time a train passes but vehicles often get caught between the tracks and have to wait while trains whiz by in both directions.
“It is scary. Sometimes people miss the trains too because there’s a train coming this way and there’s cars in the middle of both lanes. It’s a pretty bad crossing,” another passenger said.
The town of Terrace-Vaudreuil is requesting Transport Quebec build a tunnel or underpass for vehicles but so far that’s not a government priority.
“Just having an overpass would be ideal overpass or underpass would be the best solution,” Christina Damiano said of Garderie Pour Tous Les Amis.
Until an underpass is built, people need to be extra vigilant every time they cross the tracks.
With files from Tim Sargeant
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