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Calgary Transit dispatch conversations reveal operators saw a man riding on a Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) train car before it derailed in the city’s southwest on July 13.
“He’s definitely joyriding. He was waving at everybody at the Fish Creek platform here and having a good time — until he falls off, anyway,” one operator said.
Another operator tells CTrain dispatch the man “looked like he was in panic mode” and was “struggling hanging onto a side latch on the train” of the last car.
The audio conversation was made public on Broadcastify, a service that streams live audio from public safety, marine, rail and aircraft scanners. It was first reported by CTV News.
Thirteen cars were involved in the derailment earlier this month, with some cars ending up partially submerged in the Priddis Slough, a large wetland. The cars contained lumber, plywood, propane and argon, according to the company. CPKC said there were no leaks or injuries.
After reporting seeing the man riding the train, operators told dispatch they saw what appeared to be a train going backwards.
“I don’t know if they were allowed to do that at 50 kilometres an hour or so,” an operator said. “I’m wondering if that guy that was hanging on the side decided to uncouple the trains.”
“Nobody’s driving it. It’s a runaway train,” said another operator.
Uncoupling is the process of separating freight cars on a train, and can happen intentionally or accidentally.
CPKC confirmed in an email to CBC that its police services charged an individual in relation to the incident. The charges include mischief over $5,000, mischief endangering life, interference with transportation facilities and failure to appear in court.
Their next court date is July 27.
The Transportation Safety Board is investigating the derailment.