CN Rail warns of ‘catastrophic impacts’ as it seeks anti-flood barrier in Jasper park

CN Rail has filed a legal action to push Parks Canada to consider a protective barrier for its main line through Jasper National Park, stating that flooding could have “catastrophic impacts” on cross-country services if preventative measures are not taken. Canadian National Railway Co. claims that Parks Canada has been delaying the approval of proposals for nearly eight years, preventing the construction of an anti-flooding berm using gravel dredged from the river.

The railway company argues that the Snake Indian River in the park poses a significant threat to a portion of its main line that connects B.C. ports with the rest of the country. The risk of avulsion, where the river rapidly changes course and overtops its banks, could lead to devastating consequences for the main rail line. CN’s experts have warned of the impending and inevitable risk of avulsion, which could result in “significant destruction” of the infrastructure, long-term cessation of rail services, and even a catastrophic train derailment.

CN’s application highlights a previous incident in 2016 when the river overtopped its banks due to winter ice jams, requiring emergency response measures to protect the rail infrastructure. The company emphasizes that the river is at high risk of flooding in both winter and summer, posing a real and imminent threat to the main line. The potential consequences of a flooding event could necessitate extensive and costly repairs, impacting the Canadian economy.

Despite working on proposals for long-term flood prevention since 2017, Parks Canada has allegedly delayed the environmental impact assessment for nearly eight years, repeatedly rejecting CN’s proposals. The company presented a new proposal in January 2024, outlining two options for the construction of a flood containment berm. While Parks Canada has expressed support for a berm, it opposes using materials from within the park, citing concerns about the impact on the wilderness area.

CN estimates that bringing in materials for the berm construction would require significant logistical efforts, including approximately 2,000 truckloads and over 1,200 full rail cars. The company’s proposal to use gravel dredged from the river bed as a more environmentally friendly option has been rejected by Parks Canada. CN’s application seeks to overturn Parks Canada’s decision and move forward with the impact assessment process.

The ongoing legal battle between CN Rail and Parks Canada underscores the importance of implementing protective measures to safeguard critical infrastructure and mitigate the risks of flooding in Jasper National Park. The outcome of this dispute will have implications for the future of cross-country rail services and the environmental conservation efforts in the park.