27 train cars derailed, petroleum coke spilled in creek east of Prince George, CN says

A freight-train derailment on Thursday nearPrince George, B.C., that sparked the evacuation of an elementary school was larger than Canadian National Railway first reported.

On Friday,the rail company said27 cars went off the tracks, not 20, as first reported.

On Thursday, CN said there were no leaks or spills. But Friday morning, CN saida"small amount" of petroleum coke spilled into a nearby creek. The creek is part of the Fraser River watershed.

Petroleum coke is a "non-hazardous byproduct" of the refining process, the company says.

"CN environmental experts as well as regulatory authorities have been deployed to oversee the physical removal of the product from the creek," said Jonathan Abecassis, CN's senior manager for media relations.

The company hasn't yet made public what was in all of the derailed cars, saying only that "various commodities" were being transported.

Several crumpled tanker cars were visible along the track Thursday, and some people at the scene noticeda burning smell. CN said there were no fires and no danger to public safety.

The freight train derailed along the company's east to west mainline, around 200 metres from Giscome Elementary School.

The school was evacuated and staff and 29 students took shelter in a nearby church. The school was closed again Friday.

CN says it's "apologizing for any inconvenience."

There's still no information about what caused the derailment.The Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

The freight derailment has stalledpassenger service between Jasper, Alta., and Prince Georgeand Prince Rupert, B.C.

VIA Rail Canada passenger trains have been suspended or cancelleduntil at least March 10, spokesperson Marie-Anna Murat said.

She said VIA is working with CN Rail to determine when trains will return to service.