Calmar Alberta - Noise and whistles from trains near Calmar have reached unacceptable levels according to Leduc County resident Ben Wilhauk.
 
"On a quiet summer evening when they blow that whistle it's right in your driveway," said Wilhauk, who lives five kilometres west of Calmar.
 
Wilhauk said the trains used to come during the day.
 
This changed to evenings and then to late at night and early in the morning.
 
Wilhauk said trains arrive in his area between 23:00 and 06:00 about three times a week.
 
On 9 Aug 2014, a train blew its whistle 20 times between 02:00 and 05:00, he said.
 
Many of the trains are bound for the Liquids Trans-loading tank farm, near Range Road 273 and Township Road 494, he said.
 
Along with the whistles, Wilhauk said he hears the noise of train cars being shunted.
 
"This is ridiculous. They may be here three hours but you've lost four or five hours of sleep because you don't get back to sleep," said Wilhauk, who has spoken to CP Rail about the noise.
 
Under the federal Canadian Railway Operating Rules, the company is required to sound its whistles at every public crossing.
 
"The rules apply 24 hours a day and the whistle must be sounded even if the crossing has lights, bells, and crossing arms. The train whistle must begin at least a quarter mile before each crossing, and is sounded in a sequence of 2 long - 1 short - 1 long whistle," a CP Rail spokesperson Salem Woodrow told The Rep via email.
 
"In areas where there are crossings in close proximity, the whistle must still be sounded at each crossing."
 
Woodrow said trains perform heavy industrial activities and inherently cause vibrations and noise.
 
"CP operates 24/7 all across our network, and must do so in order to keep Canada's economy moving," Woodrow said.
 
"Our train operations are in response to the needs of our customers."
 
Wilhauk said he would like to see a compromise reached between CP Rail, Liquids Trans-loading, and area residents.
 
"This is beyond a nuisance," he said.
 
"Whether they're going to do something about it, I don't know."
 
Wetaskiwin MP Blain Caulkins did not respond to The Rep's request for an interview.

Russell Piffer.