Train stop could have prevented Calgary C-Train derailment, says union

The union representing C-Train drivers says placing a train stop at the end of each line could prevent crashes like the one that injured a driver earlier this week.

• 'Extremely lucky' no one died in C-Train derailment, says Calgary Transit

"In this incidence, without a doubt, it would have prevented the damage that was done," said RickRatcliffe,presidentof theAmalgamated Transit Union's local chapter.

"If there had have been one at that location, the job of the train stop is to stop the train if the appropriate signal is not being shown by the signal tower."

The C-Trainderailed at theTuscany LRT station, the end of the linein northwest Calgary,on Tuesday morning.

The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.Calgary Transit officials are reviewingvideo surveillance to determine exactly what happened.

The three-car C-Train was going 60 kilometres an hour when it left the tracks and struck a power line pole. Weights from the pole crashed through the windshield, landing in the cab.

The driver, a woman in her early 60s, was seriously hurt and it was difficult to get her out of the damaged train car.

There were three passengers on board at the time of the crash and none were hurt.

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