CN potash train derails on way to U.S.

Vancouver-Canadian National (CN) Railway crews are at work cleaning up the potash mess left early on Feb. 11 when 56 loaded cars on an east-bound train derailed 10 miles west of Rivers, Manitoba. CN officials have released only sketchy details, saying that investigation into the cause is the responsibility of the Transportation Safety Board and that any information should come from the board. Spokeswoman Kelli Svendsen in Vancouver did tell Green Markets that the incident occurred at 9:30 a.m. Central Time, and that the train was headed for an undisclosed destination in the U.S. She said there were no injuries, no dangerous goods released, and no environmental issues. Svendsen said there was no danger of polluting nearby Lake Wahtopanah since the material was contained on site and no creeks or waterways are in the area. The main line opened the next morning after traffic had been diverted over CN’s Prairie North line. Asked about losses and delays with the potash shipment caused by the derailment, she responded, “We are in discussions with our customers regarding any delays. I would not go into detail regarding the product as those are discussions we would have with our customer.” According to press reports, passengers aboard Via Rail bound for the Vancouver Olympic Games, which began Feb. 12, were stranded in Winnipeg for a time because of the derailment.