Derailment temporarily blocks CN mainline through Ashcroft

KAMLOOPS – Crews have been working to clear an eight car derailment that blocked the CN rail line in Ashcroft late last night.

Eight empty cars went off the rails around 11:45 p.m., June 5, according to Transportation Safety Board investigator Peter Hickli who says the empty cars were designed to carry lumber.

Hickli says in situations like this the railway company reports the derailment to the Transportation Safety Board, which then decides whether or not to investigate, adding it’s unlikely there will be an indepth investigation.

“In all likelihood it may not be cleaned up, but the (CN) mainline will be open now,” he says.

Photos show the derailment happened near the Highway 97C bridge over the Thompson River across the river from downtown Ashcroft.

Hickli says there have been 87 rail incidents reported to the safety board in B.C. this year, though that includes all types of incidents, not just derailments.

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