October 2022: A tragic month for trespassing incidents

October was a deadly month when it comes to railway trespassing incidents. Six Canadians lost their lives trespassing on railway tracks or property. Two others were seriously injured.
 
The tragic part is that every one of these incidents could have been prevented.
At Operation Lifesaver, our mission is to educate Canadians from coast to coast about how to stay safe around railway tracks, so that we can prevent tragedies from happening. Whether you live in Nelson B.C., or Halifax, N.S., you can help us accomplish our goal by learning—and following—these simple rail-safety rules:
 

• Stay off railway tracks, trestles, and equipment. They’re private property and trespassers can be fined. You could also be seriously injured or even killed.

 

• Never assume a rail line is abandoned. You might never see a train on a particular section of track, but that doesn’t mean it’s abandoned. Often, tracks can be deactivated and reactivated, so trains can appear on once-quiet tracks at any time.

 

• Keep your distance. Trains overhang tracks by at least a metre on each side and can carry loads that may extend even further. If you’re next to the tracks, you could be hit.

 

• Look for another train before crossing the tracks. Only use designated rail crossings and don’t cross the tracks immediately after a train passes. Wait until you can see clearly in both directions before crossing.

 

• Be aware that trains don’t follow set schedules. Trains travel up to 160 km/h and can come at any time, from either direction, on any track.

 
For more tips on how to prevent rail crossing and trespassing incidents, check out our resources page. And let’s work together to get these numbers down to zero.