Transportation Safety Board investigating train derailment near Banff

CALGARY – The Transportation Safety Board is investigating a Canadian Pacific Railway derailment near Banff.

A west-bound freight train left the rails around 2 a.m. on Friday, sending cars tumbling from a bridge into Forty Mile Creek, which flows into the Bow River about 200 metres downstream.

Canadian Pacific says of the 15 cars involved, six were carrying lentils and nine were carrying fly ash, a component used to make concrete.

The company says there were no injuries, no public safety concerns and no dangerous goods were involved.

“CP’s emergency protocols were immediately enacted and all safety precautions and measures are being taken as our crews respond to the situation with local officials,” the rail company said in a statement.

Canadian Pacific crews were sent to the scene, and will work with Parks Canada on any environmental issues.

Sustainable Resource Development said they were concerned some of the fly ash could enter the creek.

“It could affect the pH of the creek,” said Katrina Bluetchen, noting it could also build up as sediment.

“We’re still getting updates so it’s a little difficult to say what the impact is.”

Officials say they don’t yet know how long cleanup efforts will take.

– With files from The Canadian Press