MONTREAL – Mayor Denis Coderre announced Monday that railway safety has improved, though he could not say how much crude oil passed through the island.
“I want to say that I am satisfied with the kind of relationship that we have with CN,” said Coderre.
“The question is not how much, the question is do we know when it passes and the answer is yes.”
The safety improvements include an app called AskRail available emergency responses that tells them when and what kind of dangerous products are carried by trains.
The mayor also announced a simulation practice that will re-enact emergency situations.
“It’s also important to reassure the population that they have things in good hands,” said Coderre.
The aim of improving safety measures comes after the train derailment that tore up Lac-Mégantic in 2013.
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Global News has made attempts to find out exactly how many oil tankers passed through Montreal, but those requests have been turned down.
Director of Public Safety for the municipality of Côte-Saint-Luc, Jordy Reich, said AskRail helps, but it doesn’t provide enough information on oil transportation on an annual basis.
“Railway companies are obligated by law to provide the cities with the total of the different hazardous materials that pass on their yard,” said Reich.
“The problem is that it’s always after the fact.”
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One thing he knows for certain is the amount of oil tankers have increased.
The municipality of Côte-Saint-Luc has not yet been invited to participate in emergency practice runs with Montreal.
“It would be great to be invited to participate to have all the partner agencies participate,” said Reich
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