A fiery train derailment just 20 km south of White Rock on Tuesday (Dec. 22) may be a catalyst to re-energizing the conversation around relocating tracks that run along the Semiahmoo Peninsula waterfront 鈥� or at least that鈥檚 the hope of some local rail-relocation advocates.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not our desire to try and make these things into sensational things that much, because we want to work with BNSF and Amtrak to get this relocation built,鈥� Ken Jones, a White Rock resident and president of SmartRail, said, a few hours after the derailment.

鈥淚t just points out one more reason, one more problem we have. We need a straight run through this area.鈥�

Authorities confirmed that seven cars of a northbound train carrying crude oil derailed and two caught fire Tuesday at around 11:40 a.m. in the downtown Custer area, about 160 kilometres north of Seattle.

BNSF Railway has confirmed that a northbound train carrying crude oil derailed in Custer, Wash., around 11:40 a.m. local time on Dec. 22. Updated reports indicate that seven tank cars derailed and two are on fire. (1/4)

鈥� BNSF Railway (@BNSFRailway)

We are on scene of the train derailment in Custer. Seven cars derailed and five are burning. A Unified Command has been set up with and . More to come.

鈥� WA Department of Ecology 馃樂 (@EcologyWA)

Whatcom County officials said on Twitter that nearby streets were closed, there was a large response for a fire and that all residents and visitors within a half-mile of the derailment needed to evacuate; BNSF officials said their first priority 鈥渋s dealing with any safety issues.鈥�

It鈥檚 not believed anyone was injured, and the cause of the derailment remains under investigation.

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Rail relocation, meanwhile, has been a growing concern in South Surrey and White Rock for decades, with much determined discussion and research happening quietly in the background. It returns to the spotlight with increased intensity whenever rail-related incidents occur, be those storm-triggered slides that send debris along the waterfront line, or far greater, more tragic incidents elsewhere.

The movement gained particular traction following the 2013 derailment in Lac Lac-M茅gantic, Que. that killed 47 people.

Jones said Tuesday that the latest derailment in Custer had the potential to be far worse.

鈥淚t could鈥檝e been (along the scale of Lac Megantic),鈥� he said.

鈥淚f it hadn鈥檛 been so conveniently located right beside the highway where they could get at it easily 鈥� instead of along the bluffs of Ocean Park or Crescent Beach 鈥� it most certainly could have been a really big disaster.鈥�

Commenters on Peace Arch News鈥� Facebook page have also weighed in. One noted it will take a 鈥渃atastrophic event鈥� such as that in Quebec to initiate change; another pointed to better routes, such as through Sumas/Abbotsford, or from Blaine north along Highway 99.

鈥淚t is time to get the heavy loads OFF the waterfront,鈥� writes Marilyn Stirn McIntosh, noting both train traffic through the area and the population have increased dramatically.

Erik Seiz, another rail-relocation advocate, told PAN that he has long believed that one of two things would set the relocation ball firmly in motion: a serious business case that illustrates how much more profitable an inland, multi-track route would be; or 鈥渁 ridiculous disaster.鈥�

鈥淚t certainly isn鈥檛 going to move because people don鈥檛 like it, or (because) it would make a nice little bike path,鈥� Seiz said.

鈥淚 truly believe that the only way this conversation is going to happen, unfortunately, is the motivator will be a disaster. And hopefully, it won鈥檛 be one here. Hopefully this one (in Custer) will be a word to the wise.鈥�

He noted that trains carrying only crude oil are a relatively new addition to the Peninsula鈥檚 waterfront line.

鈥淲e used to see none,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey only started this up a couple years ago. Now they come through regularly鈥� a number of times per week.鈥�

Seiz said the derailment 鈥渕ight help bring some attention to that鈥� and create an opportunity to ask questions around future plans for crude-oil transport, including what safety process is in place should something go awry.

BNSF officials have said in the past that while the company would be willing to review any officially sanctioned plan to move the line, 鈥渞ealistically, it would be a very difficult undertaking.鈥�

鈥� files from Associated Press

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