Crews from Canadian National Railway and environmental companies were still cleaning up today after 11 cars derailed on a track about eight kilometres northeast of Pense, Sask., yesterday.
Potash fertilizer was spilled along the track and on the crossing over a grid road where the cars went off the track.
A resident who lives next to the line said the area had been overflowing with water in the days before the derailment and he suspected the track may have been undermined.
He and his fiancée were woken at 6:30 yesterday morning when the cars careened off the track about 100 metres from their home.
A CN spokesperson said the cause was under investigation.
“All factors that were relevant will be looked at for this investigation,” said Warren Chandler, regional manager of public and government affairs.
The train was east-bound and 25 kilometres from Regina when the incident occurred. Chandler didn’t know how many cars were part of the train or what the others were carrying. The locomotives stayed on the track and proceeded into Regina.
Asked why CN did not notify the public, Chandler said the proper regulatory bodies were notified.
“We respond to any media inquiries as they arise based on an incident that comes up that’s CN related,” he said.
Duane McKay, Saskatchewan’s emergency management commissioner, said the province had been notified and there was no immediate threat.
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“The environment (ministry) is working closely with the transportation company to assist where necessary in the cleanup,” he said. “There is no threat to anything due to the product spills that occurred there.”
