Train in Canada catches fire, five carriages engulfed | Watch Video
PTC News Desk: A striking video captured the intense blaze as flames engulfed several carriages on a train in Canada.
Firefighters expressed gratitude towards witnesses who promptly dialed 911 upon spotting a Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKCR) train hurtling towards downtown London, Ont., late Sunday night, with flames leaping high into the night sky.
Thanks to multiple 911 callers that advised our Communication Operations of an eastbound train on fire going over Oxford St. We were able to get on scene & contain the fire in the downtown area very quickly with limited damage and no injuries. Great job by Fire COMMs. #ldnont ^cs https://t.co/ajhrXT5ODT — London Fire Department (@LdnOntFire) April 22, 2024
Fortunately, no injuries were reported as wooden railway ties inside five train cars ignited, eventually bringing the train to a halt in the vicinity of Richmond Street and Pall Mall Street, a residential area, at approximately 10:49 p.m. ET.
London Fire platoon chief Colin Shewell mentioned that train cars carrying dangerous goods and hazardous materials were detached and relocated away from the burning cars.
According to Shewell, the railway ties had been collected from the Strathroy area outside London. Somewhere between Strathroy and London, they ignited, although the exact cause remains unknown.
Residents of London awoke to multiple videos circulating online, depicting the train ablaze and advancing eastward through the city. Fire crews battled the blaze for about an hour and a half before extinguishing it, with additional time allocated to ensure no residual smoldering remained.
The incident has raised several questions, including when the train crew became aware of the fire on board and why emergency services weren't contacted. Furthermore, inquiries linger about why the train halted where it did, adjacent to a residential neighborhood just west of a shunting yard, and how the fire ignited the creosote-coated railway ties.
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to determine its cause and ascertain adherence to safety protocols, noted rail consultant Malcolm Cairns, formerly associated with Canadian Pacific Railway.
The damaged train was relocated to a rail yard between Adelaide and Quebec streets, where firefighters continued to address any lingering smoldering materials. While the investigation remains ongoing, the damage is estimated at $25,000 to the rail cars and $10,000 to an office building utilised by Drewlo Holdings.
The merger of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. and Kansas City Southern Railway Co. last year, following approval from U.S. regulators for the $31-billion US deal, further adds complexity to the incident.
- With inputs from agencies
