A leisurely Saturday afternoon bike ride down memory lane proved an expensive outing for St. Thomas resident John Van Duynhoven and his wife.
As they briefly rode their bikes near the tracks at the CN yard, they were stopped by CN police and ticketed for trespassing.
Seventy-one-year-old Duynhoven stressed they were unaware of where the CN property line is.
Their encroachment on the rail property cost them $615, with CN Police refusing to instead issue a warning.
He told myFM they simply wanted to see “how the construction on Scott Street was progressing. When we reached the new round about at St. Catharine Street, I thought we could see the changes to the area along the railroad tracks to Athletic Park.
“A place I had not seen since we were married 50 years ago. A lot had changed and the gravel along the railway was loose and rough so we turned around and left within less than a minute.”
Seventy-one-year-old Van Duynhoven paints a picture of what transpired, with he and his wife unaware they were in violation.
He continued, “The terrain at the end of St. Catharine Street appears as a large gravel turnaround that ends at the edge of the tracks with no warning signs in site from the entrance to the rail yard.
“I have not entered onto railway property in the 50 years prior to this day and had not seen any of the few signs posted until I searched for them after this incident.”
Van Duynhoven recounts his conversation with the officer.
In an email to myFM he concluded, “Had we seen the signs or been given a warning, it would have been all it would have taken. Besides that, at our age, it is most likely that we would have never been on railroad property again as it has been more than 50 years since the last time.
“What started as a leisurely bicycle ride turned into a traumatic experience for both of us and we are still feeling the effects of it. We are not lawbreakers and feel insulted to be treated this way.”
myFM has been in touch with CN about the incident and the $615 fine and spokesperson Michelle Hannan emailed the following response.
“Safety is a core value at CN. We collaborate closely with local communities to raise public awareness about the potentially devastating consequences of trespassing on railroad property and not obeying rail safety signs and signals at railway crossings. Enforcement happens on an ongoing basis and CN Police works closely with neighbouring communities to ensure everyone is aware of the dangers of trespassing on CN property and infrastructure. When CN police are on patrol and see unsafe behaviour, it is their duty to communicate to community members the dangers of trespassing and this is done through enforcement, education, engineering and engagement activities.”
She requested myFM post the following safety tips:
Stay Off Tracks
Never walk, cycle or drive along railway tracks. It’s hard to judge how far away a train is or what speed it’s travelling at. Trains can go as fast as 160 km/h and can take up to 2 kilometres to come to a complete stop. That’s the length of 18 football fields.
Keep Off of Railway Property
Railway yards, tunnels and bridges are all private property. If you are caught trespassing on them, you could be fined up to $50,000. But it isn’t just illegal to trespass on railway property—it’s extremely dangerous. Railway tunnels and bridges are often only slightly wider than the rails, leaving little or no room for you if a train does come along.
Use Designated Railway Crossings
Always cross railway tracks at designated crossings. Trying to cross tracks anywhere else could be deadly. Remember, trains can come at any time, from either direction, and on any track. They also don’t always run on a set schedule.
Keep Your Distance
Trains can overhang the tracks by as much as 1 metre on each side. ¬They can also carry loads that are wider than the railway cars themselves. So, stay clear. You could also get hit by chains, straps or other equipment swinging loose from the train if you are too close.
