CP reopens mainline after fatal train derailment in Field, BC

FIELD (660 NEWS) — Canadian Pacific has reopened their mainline through Field, BC after Transport Canada conducted safety checks. According to a spokesperson for CP, crews and contractors remain at the scene working through challenging conditions to remove the damaged rail cars and equipment.

Three men from Calgary were killed after over one hundred rail cars derailed in Field on Feb. 4. The cars, carrying grain, were parked for two hours when it started rolling through a dangerous passage, building up speed in excess of 32km/h, and eventually careened off a bridge into the Kicking Horse river below.

READ MORE: TSB says derailed train began to move on its own

The Transportation Safety Board investigation will now focus on why the loss of control took place. According to a spokesperson with TSB, it’s too early to say what contributing factors were present during the crash. He described this area as the most challenging railway territory in North America

Three workers: conductor Dylan Paradis, engineer Andrew Dockrell and trainee Daniel Waldenberger-Bulmer were killed in the crash. A colleague of the men has set up a GoFundMe campaign for the victims’ families. Over $63,000 had been raised as of Wednesday night.

READ MORE: ‘Lives are changed forever:’ outpouring for families of B.C. train crash victims

According to Teamsters Canada, the union representing the victims, eight people have lost their lives in rail incidents within the past year. Now the union is calling on the federal government to make a change to prevent rail-related crashes.

The recent crash has reignited fear in residents in the small town of Field where the derailment occurred.

“I don’t think it helps to panic or live in fear too much, but there is that concern obviously,” Jennifer Coffman, a local restaurant owner, said. “There are over 25 trains daily that go through here — they are transporting all sorts of goods.”