“Don’t put your life on our line” is the message CN once again is sending out to the public to hammer home the point that not only is riding a snowmobile on a railroad’s right-of-way illegal, it’s dangerous.
“During the summer, fall, and spring, there’s an increase in the trespassing. However, in the winter, especially this year with the good snow conditions, snowmobiles definitely have been a problem,” local CN Police Cst. Pete LeDrew said Friday.
“Basically what’s happening is some of the bylaws are not being followed, and people are actually driving right along the railroad tracks, which is dangerous,” he noted.
“If you look at the fact you’re wearing a helmet and snowmobiles tend to be pretty loud, so you can’t hear a train coming up behind you.
“That’s an issue in the east end of town. There is some people driving along the tracks,” Cst. LeDrew continued. “You get down around between Crowe Avenue and Williams, there is an actual little trail system that we would prefer they use.
“Right along the tracks, there is equipment buried underneath the snow, there is rail under there. If you utilize the trails, there’s no danger of hitting anything,” he stressed.
That said, Cst. LeDrew also warned sledders to be aware of pedestrians using the trails in that part of town.
In the Fort Frances rail yard and in the west end of town, “the snowmobilers have been very courteous,” added Cst. LeDrew.
“They’ve been staying off the roadways where the employees have been working and doing their switching,” he remarked. “They’re driving along the ditch line, which to us is not a problem at all because they’re avoiding any incidents with any vehicles or employees.”
Cst. LeDrew also said snowmobilers must be aware they only can cross the railroad tracks at a level crossing, like Williams Avenue or McIrvine Road, and not anywhere they please.
Cst. LeDrew said those who ride their snowmobiles next to the rail lines not only are breaking the town bylaw, but they’re trespassing on CN property and will be fined.
But just as importantly, they’re endangering their own lives—and possibly the safety of CN employees.
In related news, Cst. LeDrew said pedestrian trespassing has been down in the rail yard, but remains a problem in the east end of town, specifically at Armit, Crowe, Christie, and McKenzie Avenues.
“With the cold weather, people tend to take shortcuts a little bit more; they’re walking and want to get to their destination as quick as possible,” he noted.
“That’s when you get the railway being utilized.
“It’s a concern because of the complacency factor,” he added. “If some kids miss a bus or get up late and are in a rush to get to school, and you factor in the cold weather, they kinda put the safety aside sometimes and take the risk.”
But just like any other time of the year, trespassers will be charged without any questions.
The threat of fines aside, Cst. LeDrew said there has been some serious accidents resulting from this type of behaviour in the past—and that should be reason enough for people not to take their chances crossing the tracks.
For more information on rail safety, visit www.cn.ca
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
