12 fatal train collisions at crossings in 2024 prompt railway safety warnings in Alberta

Twelve people have died in collisions with freight trains at railway crossings across Alberta in 2024, according to Alberta RCMP.

As Railway Safety Week gets underway, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant when approaching train tracks.

“It can take up to 2km for a train to come to a stop, even after the crew has applied the emergency brake, and there is nothing they can do to stop that train,” said Inspector Brian Jones, CN police mountain division. “Drivers are still taking too many chances at crossings.”

“We’ve noticed that people are trying to run the tracks, trying to run the arms to get ahead of the train, but the trains take a long time to stop, and they can’t swerve; trains don’t have a steering wheel,” said Constable Nicholas Sahl, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Police Service (CPKC) police.

Already this year, one person has died on Edmonton’s tracks. Officials have not given any further details. Since this summer, at least two pedestrians have died on tracks owned by CN.

“We want to see that number at zero,” said Sahl. “Even having one fatality in a year means that we’ve got to try harder for next year to keep our tracks safe.”

Pedestrians walking on the tracks is illegal; one can be arrested and fined, but officials warn that there are even more dangerous risks.

“Just like distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, respect the laws surrounding railway crossings,” said Leigh Drinkwater, Alberta RCMP traffic.

Jones says he wants more people to understand that tracks are dangerous and aren’t there for your amusement.

“There’s a mystique and an interest, and people are often times drawn to the railway for photographs,” said Jones. “We’ve had people fishing off railway bridges, swimming off railway bridges, walking along the ballast.”