The victim was trapped in the wreckage for hours
A Hudson Bay Railway worker died and another sustained critical injuries after a train derailed in Manitoba, officials have confirmed.
The victims were trapped for hours within the wreckage. Police and emergency service teams with special equipment rushed to the site on Saturday evening and worked to extricate the victims until early Sunday morning.
Deputy Chief Selby Brown said the train, which was carrying liquefied petroleum, fell off the tracks on a trestle bridge near Thompson, Man. at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. The tracks in the area were said to have been washed out.
Despite the wreckage, none of the railcars posed any environmental hazard, early reports said.
The Arctic Gateway Group, owner of the Hudson Bay Railway, said it is working with authorities and performing its own internal investigation into the cause of the derailment.
“We have said repeatedly that we will not compromise speed for safety,” said Murad Al-Katib, one of the partners. The mishap is a “stark reminder” for the group as they repair the line, he said.
The consortium took over operations from US railroad management group Omnitrax earlier this month.
The railway serves as the only land transport system into Churchill, Man. Parts of the railway have reportedly been washed out since 2017 but Omnitrax decided against the multi-million-dollar repair.
Transport Canada is set to lead further investigations with help from the police.
