Canadian Pacific worker dies at B.C. railyard

A Canadian Pacific worker has died at the company's rail yard in Port Coquitlam, B.C.

The union representing Canadian railway workers says the employee was a 56-year-old locomotive engineer and had over three decades of experience.

He is the 10th member of the union to die on the job in two years, according to the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.

"Our hearts go out to the locomotive engineer's family and everyone who worked with him,'' Teamsters Canada president Lyndon Isaak said in a statement.

"The rail industry is in crisis. We have lost 10 of our sisters and brothers over the past 24 months. It's 10 too many.''

Six of those who died worked at Canadian Pacific, the union says.

The company could not immediately be reached for comment to the union's remarks.

Safety was a central issue during a recent strike at Canada's other national railroad, the Canadian National Railway. 

Teamsters Canada says the latest incident underscores the need for governments and the industry to work toward preventing railway tragedies. The union represents 125,000 workers across the country, including 16,000 workers in the rail industry, 3,500 of whom work at Canadian Pacific.

The Transportation Safety Board was notified of the incident shortly before midnight Monday.

Spokesman Dean Campbell says investigators are gathering information before determining their next steps.

The B.C. Coroners Service says the man who died was in his 50s and from Mission, B.C.

Canadian Pacific spokesperson Andy Cummings says the company is offering counselling to the family and other employees.

He says in a statement that an investigation is underway but no further details are being released at this time.

"The company's deepest sympathies go out to the employee's family, friends and colleagues," Cummings said.

Coquitlam RCMP assisted in the incident but referred questions to Canadian Pacific Police, saying it is the lead agency on the file.