Rail safety-seeking mayor may be sued by rail company

The mayor of Port Hawkesbury says the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway has informed him it's considering legal action against both him and a local councillor.

Withtwo derailments in two weeks on theCBCNSline, Port Hawkesbury Mayor Billy JoeMacLeansays he's no closer to knowing what local rail cars carry and he has no answer from the government on whether an independentinspection will be done.

He says he just wants to reassure his citizens that they're safe.

Two weeks ago, MacLean asked the the federal and provincial governments to do an independent inspection of the CBCNS rail lines after Coun. Joe Janega, who is also a structural engineer with 35 years' experience, took his concerns to the mayor.

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During Janegas inspection, he found crumbling bridge supports and rusting steel.

MacLean and Janega expressed their concerns to the media. They asked to sit down with the railways structural engineers. That meeting was scheduled for today but CBCNS Rail cancelled two weeks ago. It has not rescheduled.

Now,MacLean says he's received a letter from the railways lawyer, saying it's considering taking legal action against him and Janega.

Maclean says they've been told to stay offthe rail lines.

Many people started questioning the safety of their local rail lines following the Lac Mgantic rail disaster last year in Quebec.

In light of the letter, MacLean declined a recorded interview with CBC News.

A call to the railways general manager has not yet been returned.