I lost my son, Lamont Murphy, on Aug. 9, 2015 in a tragic incident involving a train and, from that point on, my life as well as the lives of extended family, friends, and community members have been rocked with grief and anger.
Three weeks prior to Lamont’s death, another young citizen of Cochrane also lost his life on the same train tracks less than one kilometre from where Lamont died.
I am writing to request some tangible solutions regarding the lack of railway safety for pedestrians and for our young people in particular, in the Town of Cochrane in order to prevent further deaths, whether accidental or intentional.
I know there are costs associated with developing and implementing further safety measures. However, I know first-hand the incalculable cost of losing a child to a train. I can only imagine the emotional trauma to the train engineers, RCMP, EMS, and other first responders who have witnessed these deaths and who have lived through the aftermath.
It is my understanding that Canadian Pacific (CP) erects chain-link fences through sections of towns to maintain both vehicle and pedestrian safe crossings on CP property. However, there are many locations where the chain-link fencing is either non-existent or in need of repair. For example, the chain-link fence in the same area where my son lost his life is today in the same state of disrepair as it was on the night when he died.
How can both CP Rail and the Town of Cochrane prevent pedestrians from crossing at uncontrolled locations?
I am proposing that CP Rail and the Town of Cochrane collaborate in making the controlled railway crossings safer, while making unsafe and illegal crossings as difficult as possible for pedestrians. Erect fencing on both sides of the tracks with regular inspection and maintenance to ensure no one has used cable cutters to create unsafe access and by immediately repairing any breached access. It is critical that the fence remains in good repair. Moreover, barbed wire on top of the chain-link fences on both sides of the tracks spanning the distance from one kilometre west of River Ave. to one kilometre east of 5th Ave. will deter people from climbing over the fences.
The fact that the fence near the courthouse is in disrepair indicates that there is a desire to cross the tracks at that location. I believe it is time to install another controlled pedestrian crossing like the one located in the east end of Cochrane. In addition, the pedestrian and vehicle crossing on 5th Ave. requires proper lighting in order to ensure safe crossing.
I do understand that, if a person is determined to cross the tracks in an unsafe location there is no preventing it. However, if we can make unsafe crossings as difficult as possible this would be a step in the right direction. Research shows that even a short distraction can prevent a person who is contemplating suicide from attempting suicide. Walking the length of a chain-link fence to a road crossing could be the 5 or 10-minute distraction needed to prevent a person from following through on their plan, therefore saving a life.
By implementing safer crossings and deterring unsafe crossings, the Town of Cochrane and CP Rail can save lives and spare families, as well as first responders, RCMP, EMS and train engineers the grief and trauma associated with pedestrian deaths on train tracks.
Let’s send a message to our community that lives matter.
