Transport Canada orders changes after bus stops under railway gate

OC Transpo will review rules for drivers at railway crossings after Transport Canada issued a notice following an incident this week where a bus stopped underneath a warning gate as a Via Rail train passed by.

On Thursday, a double-decker Route 72 bus was heading east on Fallowfield Road in south Ottawa when a train left the Fallowfield station and triggered the warning lights and crossing gate to come down.

• Bus driver did right thing by stopping under warning gate

OCTranspogeneral manager JohnManconilater said the bus had approached a red light at the intersection with five vehicles in front of it and decided to stop about 3.5 to 4.5 metres away from the tracks.

He made the correct decision, according to Manconi and the head of the driver'sunion, and that is why Transport Canada wants something to change to prevent atrain-vehicle collision.

Coincidentally Route 72 replaced the old Route 76, which was involved in a fatal crash between a bus and a moving Via Rail train in September 2013, killing six people.

City hasNov. 21 deadline

Transport Canada has ordered the City of Ottawa to respond by Nov. 21 with potential changes to its policies because a "threat to safe railway operations exists"under current rules.

"When any railway crossing warning system is activated, the danger of stopping under the railway crossing gate arms puts the road users at threat of coming into contact with an approaching train,"read the letter dated Friday.

"In addition, if a bus stops beyond a railway crossing gate and does not clear the other side of the crossing, there is also a threat that the bus can come into contact with a passing train."

The city released a memo in response to Transport Canada, saying it is reviewing its procedures and directives for drivers who approach railway crossings. Officials also continue to work with Public Works staff to look at that specific railway crossing, which has had persistent issues.

Via Rail has said its investigating the incident and apologized forseparate issues at Greenbank and Jockvale roads, when warning signals went into "fail-safe"mode following a since-repaired equipment malfunction.