Audio from Calgary transit operators, dispatch and those on the CPKC train that derailed earlier this month, paint the story that a trespasser gained access to the train. “CP rail, there would be a guy attached to the side of the train that he was going by, and he wasn’t one of the workers, and he looked like he was in a panic mode,” said a transit operator to dispatch on the morning of July 13. On audio recordings, accessible through Broadcastify, several calls made by Calgary transit operators show that one man was hanging off the side of a freight train. “A southbound CP Rail train right on the last car there was this guy struggling, hanging on a side latch on the train,” said an operator. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is continuing to investigate after 13 train cars toppled off the tracks into a body of water around 7:50 a.m. July 13. Uncoupled Throughout discussions over dispatch, Calgary transit operators discussed that the train had become uncoupled, and two trains were on the track, one being considered a runaway train headed south. Calgary Transit operators notified its dispatch that they saw the man on the train at Fish Creek/Lacombe Station and reported that it had been uncoupled. The man was once again spotted on the back of that southbound train around 162 Ave S.W. before the train derailed. They described the man wearing jeans, with brown hair. “This guy, he’s still on the back of that train that he’s joyriding on the train,” said an operator. “After that train, there was another train that was going backwards. I don’t know if they are allowed to do that at 50 kilometres an hour.” Uncoupling train cars is the process of disconnecting them using a cut lever or pin lifter. It happened on the 17000 block of Sheriff King Street S.W. where the cars fell into the Priddis Slough, just south of Stoney Trail and west of Macleod Trail. The train cars involved in the derailment were carrying loads of lumber, plywood, propane, and argon. It’s not believed any of the cars ruptured in the derailment, but some construction and building materials spilled. Between 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. on July 13, CPKC dispatch says that “8.12 has derailed.” “For yourself, are you all okay? Do you require any medical services?” asked dispatch to the crew on the train. Crew members of the train were not hurt. Then listeners hear a debrief of the situation, where the crew decide to “walk the train” and assess the situation. “RTC had told us that there was a trespasser on our train,” said one member. “Sounds like there’s cars on the ground at the tail end of our train around mile 108.” Calgary Police Service diverted all questions about the incident to CPKC police. CPKC police respond In a statement the company would not confirm if they were investigating any sort of sabotage or a person hanging off their train. “All the involved rail cars (and their contents) have been removed from the site of the incident,” said Terry Cunha, a CPKC spokesperson. “Wood products from the involved rail cars have also been removed. As for the investigation, the incident remains under investigation by the TSB. I cannot confirm such a suggestion.” The Transportation Safety Board would also not elaborate on its investigation. “As the investigation is ongoing and in the preliminary stages, we are not at liberty to discuss additional details at this time,” read a statement. “Thirteen rail cars derailed at mile 108 on the Aldersyde Subdivision in Calgary, Alberta. Eight tank cars carrying dangerous goods were involved in the derailment (Seven containing liquified petroleum gas and containing containing Argon, refrigerated liquid). “There were no reported leaks of dangerous goods,” it added. “A body of water adjacent to the right-of-way was impacted by the derailment. Two TSB investigators from the Calgary office have deployed. The TSB is gathering information and assessing the occurrence.” CTV News has learned a man was taken to hospital from the derailment site, that was not affiliated with CPKC. EMS say it transported one adult from the scene, a third party to the actual incident itself in serious, but stable and non-life-threatening condition. Late Wednesday afternoon, Teamsters spokesperson Christopher Monette sent the following statement to CTV News: ““The safety of our members and the public is of the utmost concern, and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference is taking the July 13 derailment in southwest Calgary extremely seriously,” Monette said. “We are relieved no injuries were reported. For now, this incident remains under investigation. We look forward to the investigation’s findings, and our union will take any concerns directly to the company and federal regulators.”
