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Train derails while pulling into a siding

Investigators are probing the cause of a derailment on the Canadian Pacific Railway line south of Innisfail early Saturday morning.

Investigators are probing the cause of a derailment on the Canadian Pacific Railway line south of Innisfail early Saturday morning.

CPR media officer Kevin Hrysak confirmed on Monday that a northbound train left the tracks and some of its cars tipped over while pulling into a siding to allow a southbound train could pass.

The southbound train, hauling 88 cars, had stopped on the main line and was waiting for the northbound train at about 1:30 a.m., said Hrysak.

The northbound train, comprised of 10 empty tankers used for shipping glycol, left the rails and one of the cars fell against the southbound locomotive, he said.

Damage to the locomotive was minimal, and there were no spills or injuries, said Hrysak. Highway traffic was slowed for a short period of time as motorists stopped or slowed down for a closer look, but the derailment did not affect any railway crossings in the vicinity.

After cleanup the rail line was restored to full operation by 1 p.m. on the same day.

John Cottreau, a public affairs officer for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, confirmed that there were no spills and no hazard to the environment as a result of the derailment.

Safety Board officials will classify the derailment later this week, which will determine the level of investigation it will require, said Cottreau.

Classification is determined by the level of seriousness and other factors, he said.

Depending on what the investigator finds, the Safety Board may delve deeper into the investigation or it may simply enter the facts into its statistics.

CPR is also investigating. Hrysak said it will likely take at least a month to determine what caused the derailment.