Capreol, Ont. residents sound off on long waits at CN Rail crossing

A CN Rail line that bisects a main thoroughfare in Capreol, Ont., and the resulting traffic delays when the train goes by, brought a number of residents out on Thursday to sound off on the issue.

Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré held the town hall meeting to hear concerns, which drew about 50 people.

"This is unacceptable to have a train 25, 30 minutes being stopped," he said.

"It's not good for the local business, it's not good for emergency services. So definitely that is an issue that has to be brought forward in a more forceful way," said Serré.

When the crossing on Young Street is in use, it blocks the only road access to the downtown core for a sizable piece of the community. The wait can be between 10 and 40 minutes.

Residents said they've been dealing with the delays since the spring.

'Somebody will die'

A number of residents spoke at the meeting about how they've seen emergency vehicles stopped waiting for the train to pass before getting to a call.

"Flashing ambulances have been sitting at the crossing for a half an hour, I mean that's ridiculous," said Della Gauthier, who has lived in Capreol for more than 50 years.

"A person downtown took ill and was bleeding heavily waiting downtown a half an hour hour for services. That's horrible. Somebody will die," said Gauthier.

Aside from the public safety concerns, Gauthier said she's also concerned about local businesses, as people have opted to shop in nearby Hammer, Ont., in order to avoid the train.

Serré said he plans to bring the concerns he heard on Thursday to both CN Rail and Transport Canada, and hopes to have some kind of answer before winter.

In the meantime he asked residents to document their experiences at the crossing. For example how long was their wait, the length of the train and how it affected their schedule. 

Serré asked residents to email those details to his office and to CN Rail in hopes that they will help expedite change.

A representative from CN was at the meeting, and told CBC News he was there to listen to the concerns and take them back to management.