MONTREAL, Feb. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - In response to the City of Montreal's
press conference on Thursday February 28, 2013 regarding its submission
to the Canadian Transportation Agency requesting the installation of
six pedestrian level crossings in various locations along CP's property
in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie, Outremont and
surrounding boroughs, Canadian Pacific (CP) issued the following
statement:
"The safe operation of trains through the communities in which we
operate is a priority for Canadian Pacific. Crossing safety is a key
aspect of this commitment. CP reviewed this request in great detail
with consultation of rail safety experts and has concluded that it
cannot approve the construction of at-grade pedestrian crossings in
these corridors owing to operational imperatives and public safety
concerns.
CP appreciates that the residents may feel inconvenienced, and we have
voluntarily extended the offer to work collaboratively with the City on
exploring safer solutions for pedestrians including grade separated
crossings and improvements in both access and conditions of the
existing viaducts. As the City has repeatedly declined the opportunity
to explore these alternatives, the matter must now be handled with the
assistance of the Canadian Transportation Agency.
CP reviewed the Report issued by the City of Montreal last fall, and
notes there is little to no consideration of ensuring the safe
operations of current and future freight and commuter rail activity or
its importance to the economy of Montreal and the Province of Quebec.
While the report includes a recommendation on the preferred locations
for the six at-grade crossings based on where most of the illegal
trespassing is occurring, there is no analysis exploring
grade-separated solutions.
In Canada crossing and trespassing accidents are by far the largest
source of railway fatalities and serious injuries. In 2012, those
accidents accounted for 154 total fatalities and serious injuries and
this doesn't take into account the number of near misses which go
unreported each year. There was, in fact, an incident in this Montreal
corridor last year resulting in the serious injury of a young female.
CP urges the mayors in these communities to be leaders in safety and
actively discourage the reckless trespassing by their residents while
this matter continues to be under review."
About Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in
Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports,
including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a
competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of
the globe. CP is a low-cost provider that is growing with its
customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services,
logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the
rail advantages of Canadian Pacific.
SOURCE: Canadian Pacific
