In a news release issued Friday, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service issued a warning to outdoor winter enthusiasts regarding the use of railway tracks as snowmobile trails.
Police have received a number of calls regarding the issue in recent days.
"Those who enjoy winter activities, such as snowmobiling, must stick to the trails and never the rails," the release states. "With the sound of the snowmobile motor combined with reduced visibility, trains can be hard to see and hear when enjoying the outdoors. Trains can take more than 2 km to come to a complete stop."
Full text of the news release follows:
Recently, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has received calls regarding snowmobiles being operated on local railway tracks.
Sault Police and CN Police remind snowmobile operators to stay away from railway tracks and railway property. Trespassing is not only dangerous but illegal.
Those who enjoy winter activities, such as snowmobiling, must stick to the trails and never the rails. With the sound of the snowmobile motor combined with reduced visibility, trains can be hard to see and hear when enjoying the outdoors. Trains can take more than 2km to come to a complete stop.
In 2020, 187 collisions with trains occurred in Canada, resulting in 57 fatalities and 31 serious injuries. CN Police say disregard for railway crossing signals and gates, trespassing and distracted driving were the main causes of those collisions. Under the Railway Safety Act, trespassing on tracks and railway property is illegal because of the significant risk of injury and death. Trespassers can be charged criminally under the Rail Safety Act, or face a fine of $125.
For more information on railway safety, visit here.