On Saturday morning around 10 a.m., a section of Trussler Road near Ayr, Ontario, was closed due to a train derailment involving CP Rail (CPKC). The Township of North Dumfries announced the closure through a tweet. According to the Ontario Provincial Police, Trussler Road is shut down in both directions between Township Road 10 (Welsh Drive) and Township Road 9.
While there is no estimated time for the road to reopen, officials stated that the closure will remain in effect until the derailed cars are repaired and restored to the tracks. Fortunately, no hazardous material was involved, and there is no risk to public safety.
Motorists should expect increased traffic in the area while the closure remains in effect. The township is collaborating with neighboring municipalities to address the situation, and detour signs have been set up to guide drivers.
The extent of the damage caused by the derailment will not be fully known until the rail cars are removed from the immediate area.
CP Rail continues to arrive on scene, which includes specialized trains using the train tracks that travel through North Dumfries. Equipment is also arriving by trucks.
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— Township of North Dumfries (@northdumfries) July 22, 2023
In a statement emailed to CTV News, CPKC confirmed that the derailment occurred around 6:30 a.m. and involved 15 rail cars carrying vehicles and intermodal shipping containers. The rail company assured that no dangerous goods were involved, and there is no threat to the environment or public safety.
CPKC teams and equipment are at the scene, starting the process of removing the derailed cars. The cause of the derailment is currently under investigation.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has been informed about the incident. According to an emailed statement to CTV News from the TSB, a westward train was entering the Wolverton yard near Ayr when three loaded automotive flat cars derailed at Mile 70 of the Galt Subdivision. One car derailed upright, another is leaning, and a third car is on its side. The TSB is coordinating with the railway company to gather more information but has not deployed investigators to the occurrence site at this time.