Re: Ms./Miss/Mrs. Cienkowski’s letter to the editor, “Train fencing needs a better explanation,” (St. Albert Gazette, Your Views, March 20), I would like to answer her questions.
Q: What fatalities had there been?
A: None, yet. The fencing is a pre-emptive action to prevent or, at the very least, reduce the risk of one from happening.
Q: Where are the kids trespassing, and cars?
A: The Red Willow Park area is one area that I’m aware of. Kids and youth do like to climb the embankment to the tracks for whatever reason and, when I lived there, there were kids/youth who thought it was “cool” to walk across the trestle.
Q: Is it a particular area?
A: As mentioned in the previous question, I feel that it’s mostly confined to the Red Willow Park area, though, taking into account the city’s growth, as well as the fact that if a person is on railway property anywhere other than a station (i.e. VIA Rail station), or a Public Crossing At Grade (level crossing), that person is trespassing.
Q:What kind of a fence is going to be built with this huge price tag? (This price tag is unreal.)
A: This would have to do with “Minimum Standards”. To construct a good, secure fence isn’t cheap. It has to be vandal-proof, otherwise a pair of purloined bolt cutters would easily create "access" to the tracks. To that end, I would surmise that the cost would have to do with the installation of heavy duty, galvanized steel (used in guardrails on bridges, for example), as well as a base that can’t be dug under (lock blocks several feet deep, for example).
Q: Is there not another way to solve the problem of kids trespassing and cars – and could we take this step first, before sinking such a huge amount towards a fence?
A: For years, CN, through their Operation LifeSaver program, as well as the City of St. Albert and to a point both school districts. However due to the very limited resources of both Railway Police (CN and CP have their own police forces), as well as limited resources of the RCMP and the “soft-on-crime” attitude of judges, nothing is really done.
Q: Could we not put a sign to educate people – “Do not cross” – “No trespassing”?
A: Those signs already exist, but are not a deterrent in any way. “CN Private Property No Trespassing Violators Will Be Prosecuted” in capital letters with a 1-800 number to call, or a DANGER sign with the same information in English, as well as French are clearly (unless removed by vandals) posted at all railway crossings, bridges, tunnels, rail yards, etc.
Q: Cars on tracks?
A: This question has two answers. 1. Traffic flow. If traffic is such that a driver isn’t sure they can get clear of the crossing, they are supposed to wait on the near side, so as to avoid being trapped on the tracks if a train does come. 2. Though it really doesn't apply to St. Albert, there are lightly used industrial spurs that service businesses. Because there’s sometimes no sign of obvious use. If the rails are polished, no matter how lightly, that is a clear indication that the tracks are used. Because they often are at the edge of a parking lot, drivers often park there not realizing the tracks are in use, till they find out their vehicle has been moved by a towing company at the request of the railway.
Hopefully this clears up a few things for you.
Gordon Anderson, Kamloops, B.C.
