Locals familiar with the tourist attraction, which draws in more than 40,000 tourists each year, say that rafting companies have used the loading area between the railroad tracks and river for decades without any issues or accidents.
Global News Canada reports that Canadian Pacific has now told six rafting companies that they can no longer use the loading area.
“These companies will not be allowed to trespass on CP property to access the Kicking Horse River,” a CP representative wrote in a letter.
According to the article, CP’s most recent decision follows a visit from a Transport Canada safety inspector who spotted too many people and supplies being moved across the tracks. The article says that the transportation regulators then asked the Class I railroad to come up with a solution to the problem.
For months, the railroad and more than a half a dozen rafting companies discussed the possibility of installing a railroad crossing at the loading site at the expense of the rafting companies, but after a recent meeting with CP, that deal is off the table.
The railroad says that after investigating the area, the curvature and sightlines of the location in question would make it impossible to install a grade crossing safely.
“CP understands the frustration that the community may have regarding this issue. CP had attempted to find a solution that would allow rafters to cross safely and legally, but unfortunately there is no solution that meet CP’s legal, risk and regulatory requirements,” the railroad says in a statement.
Since the railroad’s latest statement, rafting companies and local advocates for tourism are still seeking for a compromise, saying that the most recent decision could impact the rafting industry and the local economy with the upcoming 2016 rafting season.
The rail line in question is located on Canadian Pacific’s Mountain Subdivision near Golden, B.C.
Robert Canadians are not sue happy like Americans are. Instead the governments mandate very high liability insurance.
CP were probably glad to get that report from the government agency . Another stone less in their shoe for them , there is a lot of great idea posted before mine . I don’t think there is that many train going thru during the day ? It’s not a metro line ! I like the one with a posted guard having a radio , it would not cost that much if you divide by the 40,000 people going there .
What’s the difference crossing a RR in town and crossing a RR in a remote area ?
I`m sure the CP CEO has the bread to trim his hefty annual salary by contributing some of his lavish income to build a small prefab walking bridge for $300,000 rather than risking to be sued in a possible lengthily and costly bureaucratic court hearings. Its likely he and his family could handle their luxury temporary cutbacks as an honest procedure to prevent a serious tragic risk.
Ian, Why not explain to all of us HOW liability and insurance in Canada ” are a completely different ballgame “?
Inquiring minds would like to know !!
The simple answer to this problem is a crossing guard. The rafting companies could pay CP to provide a properly qualified railroad employee with a radio to control when rafters cross the tracks. The ‘crossing guard’ can talk with the railway traffic controllers to determine when crossing is safe. The cost of the guard can be passed along to the rafters – a buck or two should not be a problem for people who have travelled hundreds of miles to go rafting. In exchange for CP providing the crossing guard, the rafting companies would have to agree not to cross the tracks when the guard was not present. If the cost of a railroad employee is too high, perhaps CP could consider contracting with a recently retired or laid-off railroader possessing the necessary qualifications.
40,000 tourists represents a lot of revenue in a small community. If they spend an average of just $50 each for rafting, food, accommodations and other items, then $2 million is injected into the local economy. That’s too much to give up because the rafters and CP can’t find a workable solution.
It is not expensive for the local government to pay for and CP to dig in a cement Cattle Pass under the tracks (and fences above) that would handle the traffic and canoes. CP is the worst RR in NA,
How to win friends and influence people
Mr Klippel. Liability and insurance in Canada are a completely different ballgame.
Just watch the Trains Rochelle diamond camera. I see trespassers there every day. I recently saw one guy climb up and over a stopped train to get to the other side of the tracks. And another guy carried his bicycle across all 4 tracks without even looking for a train. Most of these people are adults who live in the nearby neighborhood.
Great idea James, but I really doubt that it would ever happen, for what ever reason ! ( liability insurance ?)
Why not, and I hesitate to say this – run a train for the rafters and their gear? Once or twice per day, get a diesel and a few passenger cars and run a short trip from a nearby area to the normal unloading area. This way, CP benefits, as there would no longer be trespassers, the community would benefit, as the rafters would still come and bring tourism dollars to the area – a win-win as far as I’m concerned (as long as rail traffic isn’t too heavy there).
The issue is not the government or CP, its the rafters who want to be there.
Everybody is quick to jump on CP, but didn’t I read in the article that an inspector from a government agency is the one who started the issue? Sounds as though the issue is the governments, not the railroad.
Well what do you know……More “cherry picking” of trespassers. Railfans, photographers, joggers and now rafters. Note to CP and the other railroads: Impress us and go after the lot who has a free run to vandalize every boxcar in North America. Make an effort to stop ALL trespassers.
Install a depot with a over bridge to cross the tracks to get to river