By The Canadian Press

Did frigid temperatures play a role in fatal B.C. train crash?

Feb 8, 2019 | 8:04 AM

CALGARY – CP Rail says frigid temperatures have a big impact on train operations.

Investigators will try to determine if the cold played a part in this week’s deadly train derailment near Field B.C.

CP detailed the challenges of harsh weather in a paper last year.

It stated cold can cause air to leak from a train’s brake system, causing it to run shorter trains than usual.

Trains must also travel at slower speeds when it gets colder than minus 25 Celsius.

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The train that derailed was carrying 112 grain hoppers and three locomotives.

Only 13 cars and one locomotive was left on the track after the crash.

The engineer, a conductor and a trainee were killed.

The Transportation Safety Board says the train’s air brakes were applied as the train was parked on a slope.

But it says something caused the train to move on its own before the crew was ready to leave.

A veteran engineer questioned whether it was wise to run a train that long in those conditions.

Joe Mulligan with Railroad Workers United says there was not much to be done once the train was in motion.

(The Canadian Press)