Train engineers won’t be whistling while they work – at least, not by Bewicke Avenue.
In a bid to help residents sleep at night, City of North Vancouver council voted unanimously to prohibit trains from whistling when passing the at-grade Bewicke Avenue rail crossing near Mosquito Creek Park.
“The whistling can be very annoying,” said Coun. Don Bell. “By enacting this, it will provide some additional peace and sleep for some of the residents.”
The city is set to relay their decision to CN Rail, who will in turn instruct engineers not to have trains whistle at the crossing. However, engineers will still be permitted to sound the whistle if there is an “imminent safety risk,” such as a trespasser crossing the tracks.
The public has been supportive of the change, “with a general sentiment that this was long overdue,” according to a city staff report.
The city also apprised “relevant rail union organizations” prior to making the change. “No responses were received,” according to a city staff report.
Besides whistling, some residents have been irritated by the sound of squealing train wheels, noted Mayor Linda Buchanan. However, CN recently lubricated the tracks near Chesterfield in a bid to mute that squealing.
“I haven’t heard anything so, as far as I know, it’s worked,” Buchanan said.
There are three at-grade rail crossings in the city and one on Squamish Nation land, all of which are outfitted with flashing lights, gates and bells.
