Hope derailment raises Crescent Beach crossing concerns
Posted September 18, 2020 1:34 pm.
Last Updated September 18, 2020 1:35 pm.
SURREY (NEWS 1130) — People living near Crescent Beach are concerned about rail traffic in their South Surrey neighborhood in the wake of this week’s massive train derailment near Hope.
The blocking of the only two roads in and out of Crescent Beach by a Burlington Northern train — or a derailment — would cut off road access to the sea-side enclave.
This derailment in Hope generated questions within the community about what to do if something like that happened there.
Surrey Coun. Linda Annis said the local fire chief has this issue top-of-mind.
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“We need to make sure emergency services get down there in a very timely manner, and the fire chief is working very closely with the residents,” she said.
“Trains can be decoupled, if necessary, if there was a train stuck on the tracks so that emergency services can get through, but we need to look at other options as well.”
The Burlington Northern line comes up from the U.S. and separates Crescent Beach from the rest of South Surrey, and has been known to block both roads.
While there have been previous discussions about building an overpass, the concept has never made it past the discussion phase.
Burlington Northern insists it takes safety through the corridor seriously, but has never bent when it comes to calls to move the line away from Crescent Beach.
