Mudslide derailment shuts down rail line serving Prince Rupert port

A train derailed after a mudslide in northwestern B.C. Monday, sending dozens of rail cars off the tracks.

A train derailment caused by a mudslide has shut down a key rail line in northwestern British Columbia, cutting off a major transportation link serving the Port of Prince Rupert.

CN Rail says 27 empty grain hopper cars and a locomotive derailed just before 1 p.m. Monday along the Skeena River near Port Edward, about 15 kilometres south of Prince Rupert. The company says all crew members exited safely and no one was injured.

Local resident Justine Crawford says heavy rain was falling when the mudslide came down, blocking both the rail line and the road.

“It was pouring rain. Like, pouring pouring rain,” Crawford said.

After losing power at her home, Crawford says she went to investigate and called an emergency line to report debris on the tracks and give rail operators a heads up.

“Phoned the CN emergency line to let them know there was a bunch of debris on the tracks and to stop the trains. And I guess in between the time that we saw the landslide and got back to the house, these poor guys ran right into the landslide and derailed their train,” she said.

CN Rail says there were no dangerous commodities involved, and the B.C. Ministry of Environment says there were no visible spills into the Skeena River.

Crawford says she later saw the train crew and believes they were fortunate no one was hurt.

“We saw the guys, and they’re OK. Probably had a few stiff drinks that night,” she said.

The rail line is considered vital to the region’s port‑driven economy. Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond says the closure has already affected about 1,000 workers.

“This is Canada’s third-largest port. It’s a very active railroad and and growing rapidly,” Pond said.

He says rail service is essential to moving goods between ships and inland destinations.

“Taking something out of those rail cars and putting it on the ships, you’re taking off ships and putting it on the rail cars. That’s what we do,” he said.

While no dangerous goods were aboard this train, shipments through the corridor often include materials such as coal, propane, and other petroleum products, raising concerns among some residents.

“Northern B.C. is not equipped to deal with any of these dangerous goods that are moving through our area,” said Crawford. “We don’t have enough emergency services. We were really lucky this time.”

CN Rail has not provided a timeline for when the track will reopen, though Pond says he is hopeful it won’t take long.

“My understanding is that, you know, within a day or two, they should be able to free up that line, and, and we’ll be back in business,” he said.

Cleanup efforts are expected to continue through the night. The Transportation Safety Board says it is aware of the derailment, but did not respond to CTV News’ request for comment before deadline.