Via Rail is working with Canadian National (CN) to re-route six freight trains per day through Via’s Chatham subdivision until July 6.
The Chatham subdivision includes service through Tecumseh and Windsor.
The route changes come in the wake of a train derailment that took place in the St. Clair River Tunnel between Sarnia and Port Huron, Mich. Friday.
Approximately 40 rail cars were involved in the incident, with one car leaking approximately 52,000 litres of sulphuric acid as a result of the derailment. CN said it expects clean up of the sulphuric acid to conclude Monday.
In a June 28 media release, Via said that trains will run “during the day and at night on a temporary basis.”
Tecumseh mayor Gary McNamara said he couldn’t provide information on the cargo carried by these freight trains, but added that he surmises the rail cars are carrying “anything and everything.”
Please note: CN Rail has advised us that due to the derailment in the Sarnia-Port Huron Tunnel, an additional six (6) freight trains per day are being re-routed through Windsor. This should end Saturday, July 6. <a href=”https://t.co/jtbqGXB4QC”>https://t.co/jtbqGXB4QC</a>
—@TownofTecumseh
“[CN does] own the Via Rail line, so they’re going to be using … I believe the CP Tunnel in the meantime until the repairs are made in Sarnia,” said McNamara.
Investigators deployed, investigation underway
For their part, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said Saturday that teams of investigators from both sides of the border have been deployed to determine the cause of the derailment.
The TSB added that it will lead the investigation if it’s determined that the “point of derailment is in Canada.”
Canada’s transportation safety watchdog said that access to the site is restricted due to the limited space available, as well as additional hazards present in the tunnel.
Sarnia still waiting on answers
Sarnia mayor Mike Bradley says the city is still waiting to find out when the St. Clair River Tunnel can be reopened.
Bradley explained there are cars on the Sarnia side of the tunnel, and that the locomotive “which was at the halfway mark” was removed Monday night on the Canadian side.
He added that rail cars containing “passenger vehicles” are an additional source of frustration.
Earlier this morning, Sarnia fire platoon chief Bill Sheane told CBC News that crews put out a fire in a yard near the St. Clair River Tunnel.
The yard is being used to house automobiles removed from rail cars involved in the derailment.
Though crews are crushing these vehicles to remove them from rail cars more easily, each vehicle contains approximately five gallons of fuel, as well as an intact battery.
“As they’re unloading them into the staging area, they catch fire,” said Sheane.
Bradley said that the tunnel itself is structurally sound, though the derailed train prevented Sarnia firefighters from getting to the fire from the Canadian side.
CN has yet to issue a formal update on its progress.