CN Rail reopens tracks after Gogama, Ont. train derailment

CNRail says its crewscompleted repairs to thetracks near Gogama, Ont. Tuesdaynight and re-opened the rail line to train traffic about 10:30 p.m.

"Trains have resumed running through the derailment area at a reduced speed due to the ongoing clean-up work at the site," wrote CN Public Affairs'PatrickWaldron.

"CNsenvironmental team continues to work closely with the Ontario Ministry of Environment on mitigation, monitoring and restoration plans as part of the ongoing clean up."

Crews have constructed berms and deployed containment equipment, including booms and absorbent materials to contain the spilled crude oilto the derailment area.

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Waldron noted that firefighting experts have allowed a controlled fire involving two tanker cars to continue to burn.

"Those cars are a safe distance from the tracks and present no danger to rail operations or ongoing clean-up work being done in co-operation with key stakeholders, includingTSBand the Ontario Ministry of Environment," he continued.

Waldronsaid the rail cars involved in the crash wereCPC1232 tank cars ones not owned by CN. They derailed from a train of100 loaded cars.

"A complete assessment of the cars and the amount of product spilled is still ongoing," he added.

"As the co-ordinated clean-up continues, the incident remains under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board. The speed of the train is part of that and CN will decline to comment on the TSB investigation."

Waldon noted "the train was visually inspected four times during its trip and passed over a wayside safety detector approximately 20 miles before the derailment, with no issues identified."

"The track was last inspected visuallySaturdaymorning, and inspected with [a] rail flaw detector and geometry test car within the last week," he said.

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