This is not an original concern, but I share it because I believe it to have some merit. Considering the local elections were recently underway in our city, it surprised me to hear that much discussion was made about consideration for an underpass to provide access to the lakeside area, but no mention has been made about what candidates felt should be done about preparation for accidents involving trains. I remember hearing a senior captain of the Surrey Fire Department saying that the most dreaded of fire calls would be one involving the rail yards, largely because no one really knew what was contained in the tank cars found there.
Setting aside the debate on the underpass, just imagine what a derailment in the centre of our town would mean. I have wondered about this while walking along the lakeside trail as a train passes, just above. Say good-bye, I suppose.
Just imagine what a derailment of a train carrying unidentified liquid products would mean for our city.
Oh wait, we do not have to imagine what that would mean, we already know. It has already occurred. Lac-Mégantic 01:15 EDT, on July 6, 2013.
John Harper
