CN Rail Police say they will be out in full force, conducting safety blitz operations at railway crossings and commuter stations in about 150 locations across North America -- including Prince George -- as rail safety week kicks off Monday.
In a press release, CN Rail Police Chief Stephen Covey says he's "vowed there will be no compromise in the effort to end accidents, injuries and fatalities in railway crossing accidents and from trespassing" through tougher enforcement.
CN is also calling for stiffer provincial penalties for rail safety violations and for inclusion of rail safety training in driver education - for new drivers and drivers of trucks and school buses.
In 2009, in Canada, 256 grade crossing and railway trespassing accidents resulted in 71 fatalities and 36 serious injuries.
Trespassing remains the leading cause of rail-related fatalities in Canada, and last year these fatalities increased by almost 10 per cent over the number in 2008.
