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A freight train derailment in southwest Calgary sent 11 railcars into a nearby wetland on Monday morning, prompting a response from emergency crews and a hazardous materials team.
The derailment happened around 7:45 a.m. along the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) rail line near the 17000 block of Sheriff King Street S.W.
According to the Calgary Fire Department, 13 cars derailed, with 11 ending up partially submerged in the Priddis Slough, a protected natural environment under the city’s Ecological Network.
In an email statement, CPKC confirmed the derailed cars were carrying a mix of lumber, plywood, propane and argon, an inert gas commonly used in welding and other industrial processes.
Fire department public information officer Alex Kwan said materials could be seen floating in the water, but that packaging used to transport products is designed to keep goods contained.
“We have nothing to indicate that there is any gas spillage or any liquids,” Kwan said, adding that there is “no imminent danger to the public at all.”
A technical rescue team was initially deployed but has since been released from the scene.
CPKC confirmed that the crew aboard the train were not injured. No other injuries have been reported.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) confirmed in a press release that it will open an investigation into this incident. TSB investigators look solely at transportation safety and are not involved in assessments to determine fault or criminal liability.
Emergency crews say the derailment occurred away from major roadways, so traffic has not been affected. However, Kwan said the response has been complicated by limited access along the waterside.
“There’s less space to work with,” he said.
CPKC confirmed that additional crews are responding to the scene to begin a clean-up.
The cause of the derailment remains under investigation. Police and fire officials are asking the public to avoid the area while crews continue their work.
