‘Ottawa’ Rail Travel Disrupted as Freight Train Derails at Smiths Falls
A freight train derailment at Smiths Falls has thrown a monkey wrench into summer weekend travel plans for Via Rail passengers.
A Via spokeswoman said a CP Rail train derailed around the supper hour Friday, bringing traffic in both directions between Ottawa and Brockville to a halt.
CP said the train derailed between Carroll Road and Highway 15 at about 5:15. It said there were no injuries and no public safety issues, and that teams had been dispatched to assess the site and begin cleanup operations.
The OPP tweeted about the derailment Friday night, saying that those in the Smiths Falls area may see a derailed train, but they also said there was no threat to public safety.
It wasn’t known when the tracks would be cleared.
In the meantime, the company sent an email to passengers booked on trains and was looking at alternative means of transportation, which typically takes the form of buses.
Updates will be posted on Via’s website at viarail.ca. Via Rail could not immediately say how many trains and passengers would be affected.