CALGARY – Calgary’s mayor says he has a lot of serious questions for CP Rail after a bridge across the Bow River failed and railcars carrying oil products derailed.
Naheed Nenshi (nah-HEHD’ NEHN’-shee) says he wants to know why the bridge was last inspected on Saturday when water on the river was still at record levels.
He says he knows a lot of employees have been laid off at the railway and he wonders how many of those layoffs were bridge inspectors.
Railways are under federal jurisdiction and he says that’s been a point of contention for municipalities who are powerless to regulate them.
Emergency crews were undertaking a delicate operation to secure the derailed cars and empty them before they fell into the water.
Officials have not said whether the collapse was related to the heavy flooding Calgary has experienced in recent days.