Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

TRAIN DERAILMENT

Cause of five-car CN train derailment in Barriere under investigation

Mar 13, 2025 | 4:29 PM

KAMLOOPS — No injuries were reported after a five-car train derailment near Barriere Wednesday night (Mar. 12). CN crews were on scene overnight into Thursday morning (Mar. 13), conducting repairs to the rail lines and cleaning up the debris.

Around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Stacey Booth says she was out with her five horses in a pasture beside the tracks when cars toward the back of the train began to go off the rails.

“And then all of a sudden this horrific noise, the horses took off running and I ran the other direction. Then I looked over and I saw the train was derailing,” she says. “Yeah, it was pretty scary.”

Booth says it was a moment her nerves won’t soon forget, but she and the horses were not hurt. After calling 9-1-1, Booth says the fire department and CN arrived on scene quickly.

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“The heavy equipment started showing up just after 8-ish, 9:00 p.m.. They got to it right away. It’s amazing, like the remainder of cars are gone,” she notes. “Just the mess to clean up now, I guess.”

In a message to CFJC, Barriere’s mayor, Rob Kerslake, says the fire department determined there was no hazardous material risk at the scene. BC’s Ministry of Environment also confirmed the five cars that went off the tracks were carrying auto parts and wood chips.

“Thankfully, the carts fell the other way. They didn’t fall toward us. The railway tracks started unravelling toward us, though, and that was the freakiest part.” says Booth.

CN says there were no leaks, fires or injuries as a result of the incident. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.