It has been revealed that BNSF railroad is planning to install a siding line in North Delta running from 64 Avenue north to 72 Avenue on the eastern portion of what is the MK Delta Lands proposal.
This no doubt results from the elimination of the emergency coal stockpile planned at Fraser Surrey Docks. If this siding becomes reality, as I fear it will, I wonder how the residents adjacent on Westview Drive will feel when they have trains parked virtually in their backyards.
These trains, with up to 135 cars of exposed U.S. thermal coal, will have their locomotives idling, emitting extremely hazardous diesel exhaust fumes.
This would happen when weather conditions preclude the barges sailing to Texada Island, but the trains will still arrive daily from south of the border.
Do the residents have no say in this? Apparently not, because Uncle Sam decides what he can do with his railroad in our country.
David Gibbs
Surrey
