A Canadian National Railway (CN) freight train has derailed into Gates Lake for the second time in a year.
Gates Lake is located near Birken, which sits approximately 25 kilometres northeast of Pemberton. The accident occurred at around 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11.
According to CN, the cars were carrying wood products that do not pose an environmental threat to the area and no one was injured.
"There are no injuries, no dangerous goods involved and no danger to the public or the environment," said CN in a statement sent to Pique.
According to CN, the train was heading southbound and carrying 11 boxcars in total. One of the cars landed in the lake and a second car is on the embankment with one end in the water. The rest of the involved box cars remain on the railway embankment, said the statement.
CN is investigating how the derailment happened.
Last September, a CN train derailed into the same lake. It, too, was carrying lumber and pulp.
Village of Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman said this derailment is a cause for concern, especially in light of last year's accident.
"The fact that this has happened twice now, that it isn't an isolated event, is a huge concern," said Richman.
"I'd like to understand why this has happened twice in the same area, and I want to hear more from CN about the causes and what they're going to do to make sure it doesn't happen again," he said.
Check back for more as this story develops.
