New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian is hoping his plan to end late-night rail noise doesn’t go off the tracks like a previous attempt.
On Feb. 4, Julian reintroduced a private member’s bill in Parliament that would prohibit railway companies from engaging in excessively noisy rail yard activities in residential areas between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Bill C-218, the Railway Noise and Vibration Control Act that was recently addressed, would address high noise activities in rail yards such as idling, sorting, coupling and shunting of rolling stock, which Julian says creates an “incredible” amount of noise.
While many people point out that the railways were in place before residences, Julian noted that train traffic in urban areas has increased substantially in the past 30 years and the trains are longer, resulting in more frequent and much longer periods of noise in rail yards.
He added that the size and weight of rail cars has also increased, causing greater vibrations in nearby homes.
Julian said his bill is the result of extensive work with the community and comes after many calls for “real change” to address the issue. He said the previous Conservative government “utterly failed” to take responsibility for this problem.
“I hope that the new Liberal government will be as willing to address this issue as when it was acting as official Opposition in 2007. Every resident of Westminster Quay knows why a conciliatory approach will never work and only tough legislation can resolve this health hazard,” he said. “Quayside residents and every Canadian are entitled to a good night’s sleep, and I urge the Liberal government to act quickly on this matter.”
Brian Allen, a Quayside resident who has been working to address railway issues in the city for years, said Julian has the community’s best interest at heart by introducing the private members bill.
“As this is an issue that impacts municipalities across Canada and constituents of every party, I believe he should be able to garner bipartisan support to have this amendment to the Railway Act passed,” he said. “I wish him the best in his continuing endeavours to better the lives of his constituents in New Westminster and other communities across Canada.”
