Friday morning rail news:
— After almost four weeks, the blockade of Canadian Pacific tracks near Montreal has finally ended. This morning, Mohawks at Kahnawake, Quebec, lifted the blockade in what a spokesman called “a gesture of good faith.” The Montreal Gazette reports that one of the protesters said the blockade could resume at any time, if events warrant based on ongoing negotiations with the Wet’suwet’en First Nations group over a gas pipeline in British Columbia. CTV News reports that commuter rail service on Exo’s Candiac line, shut down since the blockade began, is still being replaced by buses, pending clearance from CP to resume service.
— Union Pacific CEO Lance Fritz will be one of the co-chairmen of a major business group’s task force to respond to the fast-spreading coronavirus. Fritz and Arne Sorensen, Marriott International CEO, will be co-chairs of Covid-19 Task Force formed by The Business Roundtable, an association of major corporate CEOs, The Hill website reports. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz, the former president of CSX Corp., is also part of the group. The Business Roundtable also announced it was cancelling its Innovation Summit 2020, scheduled for March 18 in Washington.
— Sonoma and Marin counties weren’t the only California area voting down a transit measure this week. Contra Costa County’s Measure J, which would have used a half-cent sales tax to raise $3.6 billion over 35 years for transportation projects — mostly public transit, including increased BART service — was supported by only 49% of voters, Streetsblog San Francisco reports. It needed a two-thirds majority to pass.
— A British Columbia elementary school will remain closed today in the wake of a Canadian National derailment that forced evacuation of the school on Thursday. About 20 cars derailed near Giscome, B.C., approximately 25 miles east of Prince George, at about 10 a.m., leading to the closure of Giscome Elementary School, about 200 yards away. “We were advised by CN, and also the school district made it quite clear that we needed to evaculate immediately,” vice principal Jason Schwartz told the CBC. CN did not provide information on cargo in the derailed cars but said there is no danger to public safety as long as there are no fires or leaks.
Why does the Canadian government put up with this crap.
“Mohawks at Kahnawake, Quebec, lifted the blockade in what a spokesman called ‘a gesture of good faith.’ “
That sure is generous of them. (sarc)
“the protesters said the blockade could resume at any time, if events warrant” Sure make me think the horse has just left the barn. Expect to see blockades for every perceived injustice out there. Don’t like where the new McDonald’s is going? Block the train tracks…