iN VIDEO: A perfectly functional downtown Kamloops train crossing
A downtown train crossing in Kamloops appears to be operating strangely in an online video, but CP Rail says it's nothing out of the ordinary.
The Youtube video was posted by EB's Railfan Productions earlier this week, showing the 2 Ave crossing guards lower as a CP train approaches.
It then lifts again, still with warning bells chiming and lights flashing. Three vehicles pass through before it lowers again and the train comes into view.
The account behind the video did not respond to an inquiry from iNFOnews.ca, but a CP Rail spokesperson who viewed the video said the crossing guards were working "as intended to."
"It did not malfunction," a company spokesperson said in an emailed response.
There was no collision at the scene, but managing safety issues at Kamloops train crossings has been an issue in the city for years.
Safety for pedestrian crossings at 3 Avenue, a block away, led to tensions between the City and Transport Canada nearly 10 years ago. Pedestrians were rushing to beat passing trains or crawling through those that were stopped, avoiding the pedestrian bridge.
The City had to shell out costs for flaggers and bylaw officers to control pedestrian traffic, while maintenance of rail crossings is CP Rail's responsibility.
CP Rail wanted the City to close both the 2 Ave and 3 Ave crossings entirely, but the City wouldn't consider that.
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