Via deals with rail washout

NO INJURIES AMONG PASSENGERS

Via Rail Canada says two locomotives and a baggage car on a train going from Winnipeg to The Pas in northern Manitoba derailed overnight in a remote area of east-central Saskatchewan.

The Crown rail company said Train 693 was carrying 16 passengers and five crew members when the accident happened shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday, 37 kilometres north of the town of Hudson Bay.

Marie-Anna Murat, a Via spokeswoman, said the engines and baggage car in the eight-unit train ended up on their side.

“All (five) passenger cars remained upright,” she said.

Preliminary information showed two crew members suffered minor injuries. It also indicated no passengers were hurt.

Via said everyone aboard was taken to the Hudson Bay Health Care Facility to be assessed and treated, if needed, and had all been discharged.

Via was offering trauma counselling to passengers and crew, and set up a telephone hotline (1-877747-0707) for people wanting information on family members who were on the train.

Alexandre Fournier, a spokesman for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, said the train was going about 50 km/h when it hit a section of track that had washed out.

Murat said Via couldn’t confirm a washout.

“I know there was flooding in the area, but the accident is under investigation and as of now we don’t know the cause. The area is very remote,” she said.

Passenger rail service between Winnipeg and Gillam, Man., has been suspended until further notice.

Fournier said TSB investigators were on their way to the scene.