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'Dalton, climb aboard,' say railway teamsters

The union, representing 4,000 maintenance of way workers, wants the province to invest $29 million to improve safety on short line railways “Ontario lost more than 60,000 jobs in May alone and the province's 14 short line railways are important enabl
Northern Ontario Business Staff

The union, representing 4,000 maintenance of way workers, wants the province to invest $29 million to improve safety on short line railways

“Ontario lost more than 60,000 jobs in May alone and the province's 14 short line railways are important enablers of economic activity, especially in rural areas with agricultural and resource-based industries,” said William Brehl, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and a member of Transport Canada's Advisory Council on Railway Safety.

The teamsters are supporting an investment plan from the Railway Association of Canada.

The union wants to see the McGuinty government support short line railways to ensure public safety, create 1,000 jobs and keep transportation links open to Northern Ontario.

They said track conditions among Ontario's 14 short line railways are in sad shape and need repair. The union points to a derailment on the Ottawa Valley Railways, June 3, that dumped 20,000 litres of diesel fuel into the Ottawa River because of a washed-out track bed. The union said these conditions could force some operators to shut down because of operating inefficiencies and safety concerns.