The Mayor of Ashcroft says there are some concerns about safety with both CN and CP rail lines passing through her community.

Barbara Roden says about 175 homes in the Mesa subdivision are cut off from downtown Ashcroft if there is an issue on the CP Rail line. “If the two crossings are blocked, which frequently happens when two trains are passing each other, one of them has to come to a stop, our ambulance station, our fire department, and our police station, they are all downtown or in North Ashcroft. They would be unable to get across the tracks. If the trains are blocking the crossing, they are not going to unblock it in a hurry.”

Roden adds that trains are becoming longer and more frequent. “So it is a concern for people. About four years ago, there was a house fire up on the Mesa. Fortunately, the crossings were not blocked, and so our fire department was able to get up there very quickly. But a lot of people at the time said, ‘well, what if the crossings had been blocked? What could have happened?”

“The directional running where the trains all head one way on the CP line and head the other way on the CN line ends just south of Ashcroft. So by the time the trains on the CP line get to Ashcroft, you’ve got them going in both directions. We have double tracks through town, and if two happen to hit town at the same time going in opposite directions, one of them has to come to a stop, means they are blocking both the crossings.”

Roden says an over or underpass would help, but adds it would be very expensive.