A train derailment in rural Cape Breton is raising concerns in the community of Orangedale, N.S.
Police say no one was injured when a locomotiveleft the tracks at a crossing around 2 p.m. Monday.
Police say nine cars being pulled by the locomotive remained on the track and there was no damage to property. The Orangedale-Iona road was closed for some time while the cars were removed.
While no one was hurt, the incident has raised questions among area residents, who are concerned about what the train was carrying.
“We forget how often stuff goes through our community,” says Lisa McQue. “We really should have an idea of what is on it.”
“There’s information out there,” says Lindsey Quinby. “People should know about these train derailments and how dangerous they really are.”
The issue was raised with the Nova Scotia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal on Tuesday.
“In light of recent events we’ve seen in this country, I think people are concerned and people have the right to know what’s travelling along those lines,” says Geoff MacLellan.
“For us, as a government, we have to make sure those regulations are enforced.”
A spokesperson for Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway says a block of ice on the tracks is to blame for the derailment.
“The operator is required to monitor the line to make sure these types of issues don’t happen and we will follow up to make sure everything was followed,” says MacLellan.
A replacement locomotive arrived from Port Hawkesbury to remove the cars around 5:30 p.m. Monday.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kyle Moore and The Canadian Press
