Transportation Safety Board officials probing derailment near Hudson Bay

Two Via Rail Canada locomotives and a baggage car in a train headed from Winnipeg to The Pas in northern Manitoba derailed in a remote area of eastcentral Saskatchewan.

The Crown rail company said Train 693 was carrying 16 passengers and five crew members when the incident took place Thursday around 2 a.m., about 37 kilometres north of the town of Hudson Bay.

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

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

Two crew members suffered minor injuries. According to RCMP, there were no fatalities or serious injuries reported. Everyone on the train was taken to the Hudson Bay Health Care Facility for assessment and, if necessary, treatment. All were discharged Thursday. Via was also offering trauma counselling to passengers and crew.

RCMP officers from Hudson Bay and surrounding detachments, as well as CN police, Hudson Bay emergency medical services and Hudson Bay rescue responded to the scene, which does not have direct road access, RCMP noted. RCMP members travelled with CN Rail on high-rail vehicles to access the scene.

Transportation Safety Board of Canada spokesman Alexandre Fournier said the train was going approximately 50 kilometresper-hour when it hit a section of track that had washed out.

Murat said Via cannot 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.