TOGO – Eleven people on a Via Rail train are safe after a derailment in eastern Saskatchewan that appears to have been caused by water.
Via spokesman Jacques Gagnon said the train went over a section of track that had been washed out Sunday evening near Togo.
“Water basically … was undermining the track and it caused a slight derailment,” said Gagnon.
“I’ll characterize it as a slight derailment because no cars were (tipped over), they were still upright. There were no locomotives sideways or passenger cars sideways.”
The train was heading to Churchill, Man., from Winnipeg when the derailment happened.
The RCMP said in a news release that two engines and one car came off of the tracks. The Transportation Safety Board, however, said two coach cars derailed.
One of the engines also caught fire, but RCMP say it was a small fire and was put out quickly.
Gagnon said there were seven passengers and four crew on board.
“The good news is that there were no injuries whatsoever to the employees, nor the passengers and they’ve been taken care of,” said Gagnon.
Gagnon said it could be at least 48 hours before the route can be used again.
The safety board is sending a team of investigators to the site to find out what happened.
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