District of Taylor to investigate public concerns over train horn volume

TAYLOR, B.C. — The District of Taylor has said it is exploring ways to address a growing issue among residents.

During a June 1st council meeting, District of Taylor council members discussed an ongoing issue in the community surrounding noise pollution from CN trains.

“There is the possibility of whistle cessation that’s out there, and we can look into it,” said Brent Taillefer, the mayor of the District of Taylor. 

“I do not know the [process]; it has to be approved by Transport Canada. I do not know if we can request it over a provincial highway; that is another thing I’m going to ask staff to look into.”

Curtis Martin, a resident in Taylor, said he has hit his “breaking point” when it comes to noise from the horns on CN Rail trains travelling through the town.

“It’s gotten worse in the fact that it’s all hours…For us, our quiet time is 10 p.m. or bylaw [is] going to come over and shut us down for having our music too loud, or our dogs are barking throughout the day, or something like that, we all get shut down for that.” 

“But these guys [CN Rail] are allowed to blast their horn at 1 a.m. or 3 a.m., there’s no set time… I think it’s extremely disrespectful that it’s just all hours.” 

Martin said he submitted a handwritten complaint about the issue to the District of Taylor two years ago, and when he attempted to write another, he said the district told him they no longer accept handwritten complaints. 

“I was told by the district that because they’re [CN Rail] a government agency, there’s nothing they can do about this issue.”

In an interview with Energeticcity.ca, Taillefer said residents are welcome to bring their complaints to the district office. 

CN said in a statement provided to Energeticcity.ca it is federally regulated and governed by Canadian Rail Operating Rules, which require trains to use their whistles at public train crossings. 

“Safety is a core value at CN, and while we understand that train whistling may be disturbing at times,” it said. “CN operates 24/7 and train whistles are an important safety device used to alert vehicular and pedestrian traffic of an approaching train, warn trespassers away from the railway right-of-way, and notify CN employees of approaching trains.”

CN said in certain circumstances, municipalities can request exemptions from whistling requirements for particular crossings.

During the June 1st council meeting, Taylor councillor Desirae Graziano said the district should explore a community engagement session with CN. 

“I think there’s two points for this, and I think we have already asked CN to come and do a bit of community engagement,” Graziano said. “I think we at one point talked about that. I think that’s worth the discussion again, especially with our increased traffic and safety week approaching.”

“Maybe having some of those presentations, about, this is why we do it,” she said. “I think one concern as a resident, and listening to other residents, I don’t think it’s the horn that people are upset by, I think it’s the length of the horn and the intensity.” 

Taillefer explained what he hopes a CN community engagement session would provide.

“I think some education on what the regulation is,” he said. “CN is regulated by Transport Canada, and what their responsibility is at a crossing. I mean, if that’s what the regulation is, they have a duty to fulfill their job and use the horn.”

“We can’t control when they come in or out of the community either, so we are a resource-based municipality and trains moving in and out means there’s resources working, which is a good thing,” Taillefer said.