Risk to public 'low' after freight train derails in Kingston, Ont., city says

Municipal officials in Kingston, Ont., say there's no immediate danger to the public after several cargo train cars left the tracks on the city's west side Wednesday morning.

The derailment occurred near Bath Road between Armstrong and Queen Mary roads at about 11:10 a.m. ET, and led Kingston police to urge people in the area to stay indoors.

Bath Road, the main east-west thoroughfareto and from downtown, is still closed after the derailment between Armstrong and Queen Mary roads.

Kingston police are asking pedestrians to avoid the area.

In an update early Wednesday afternoon, the city said in a tweet that a "food-grade product" spilled onto the tracks, and the risk to the public was low.

The spill had also been confined, officials said.

The city's update came after Kingston Police told people nearby to stay inside and avoid walking or driving in the area while specialists assessed what chemicals if any were being carried by the overturned rail cars.

At 4 p.m. ET, police said people could once again go outside, although they urged them to stay away from the crash site.

Nobody was injured in the derailment, said Const. Ash Gutheinz.

CN, city monitoring situation

Thistrack is a spur off the main freight line thatcarries products to and from the Invista factory on the waterfront. The plant produces nylon products such as fabrics and other material.

Canadian National Railway saidthe train belongs to the company, and crews are heading to the site of the incident.

The City of Kingston's environmental services team is also monitoring the derailment.