20 January 2006
Students Charged with Trespassing on Railway
Whitby - After issuing a number of warnings and working with local school boards, Canadian
Pacific Railway decided the time has come to get tough with students on rail safety.
From 16-21 Jan 2006, police with CPR targeted two schools along the railway's Belleville subdivision near Whitby, charging
a total of 18 students from All Saints Catholic Secondary School and Donald A. Wilson Secondary School under the Federal Railway Safety
Act. The trespassing charge carries a fine of $120.
"Sadly, we are encountering too many young people using the tracks as a pathway and crossing them dangerously, with this particular
stretch an immediate concern," CPR police sergeant Neil Shannon said. "Our railway's safety messages are very
straightforward - walking or playing on train tracks is dangerous and illegal, which could lead to deadly consequences."
CPR spokesman Ed Greenberg said CPR police have been working with Durham Regional Police, the Town of Whitby, and the two schools in
question to prevent students from walking on or near the rail line. Public address announcements were made warning them of the dangers
of walking on and near the tracks and the fact that it is illegal.
CPR is also working with the Town of Whitby to ensure more safety signs and fencing is put up in the area, he said.
"We believe in awareness... laying charges is the third step," Mr. Greenberg said. "If we can prevent a death or injury,
then we feel it's worth it.
"This is a main line for CPR - it is one of our main lines from Toronto to Montreal," he added. "This is an industrial
corridor and it's a busy area for us. It's no different than Hwy. 401 in terms of its traffic. We want to avoid a tragic
situation."
Residents who have concerns or want to report an incident are asked to call the CPR Police Service at 1-800-716-9132, or
their local police service.
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