FVC Perspectives: Train safety

Every community in the Fraser Valley is affected by railways.

The whistles from the trains punctuate the air; the rails snake throughout the valley. And each year, an average of three people are killed by passing trains.

We wrote in detail about the deaths that have occurred in the Fraser Valley over the last 40 years, and explored what experts say can be done to reduce fatalities on a particularly deadly section of track in Chilliwack. (You can read that story here.) But we also wanted to know what FVC readers felt could be done to improve rail safety in the valley.

A majority of respondents said they had not been affected by a rail safety issue in their community. But they still offered their thoughts on what could be done to make the Fraser Valley more safe.

Here’s what our readers had to say. (We weren’t able to use every response we received, but we appreciate them all. As noted in the form, we prioritize responses that come with a name.)

Robin Woolmer: “Some railroad crossings have been improved by using cast concrete slabs on either side of the rails, making a more consistently level area as you transition across the rails. This is an improvement compared with tracks with asphalt on either side of the rails. The asphalt heaves in hot weather and makes the crossing much more irregular and harder to walk or roll over.”

Janet Sweeney: “BC rail Mt. Lehman Rd needs crossing arm.”

Pete Harder: “I think train whistles should be reinstated.”

Greg McKone: “I understand that the Canadian regulations for railways require that passenger rail only happens on tracks where the crossings are controlled. Across Abbotsford, and Langley, there are lots of rails that are not controlled, and presumably this factor prevents those routes from being used for Passenger rail. It increases the cost the barrier to entry for any kind of public public transportation on the railways.

“Many years ago, maybe 20, the West Coast Express, and the City of Abbotsford were in some kind of a discussion to see if maybe they wanted to extend a train out to Abbotsford the tracks involved don’t necessarily have these controls in place and so it might not be viable.

“We all suffer because we’re lacking the safety infrastructure for passenger rail."

Troy Gasper: “I feel Abbotsford has done everything possible for public safety.”

Aaya: “Reduce train lengths and weights.”

Alli: “Mental health supports.”