Teamsters Canada Rail Conference

Angry passengers are demanding answers from VIA Rail after an engine fire aboard Train 46 from Toronto left them stranded in a mosquito-infested bush near Richmond Sunday night.

The fire occurred at about 8:30 p.m. forcing the train to stop near the Richmond Centennial Golf Club, a couple of kilometres from the nearest railway crossing at McBean Street.

Firefighters from Ottawa and Richmond-Stittsville, police and paramedics were sent to the scene and helped escort the passengers along the tracks, but had to wait for confirmation from VIA that no other trains were coming. Though some of the passengers walked, most were ferried out in pickup trucks equipped to drive on the tracks. Six OC Transpo buses were also sent to shelter the passengers from mosquitoes and take them on to the Ottawa station.

There were no serious injuries, although paramedics did treat 15 people for complaints such as allergic reactions, sore knees and diabetes.

The two train operators were treated for smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital for a check up.

Journalism student Lauren Vogel was on board the train and described scenes of panic as smoke from the burning engine filled the passengers cars. Vogel said some passengers were critical of VIA for failing to give clear instructions to passengers and being slow to open the train car doors.

The walk to safety took place along a section of track that was flanked by steep ditches filled with swamp water.

The passengers finally made it to the Ottawa station at about midnight, four hours late, she said.

Another passenger, Jeff Enfield, said the lights on the train went out several times during the trip and said he saw and smelt smoke drifting past his car during the last power outage. He questioned why VIA hadn’t spotted the problem during its pre-trip maintenance check.

Enfield praised the response of Ottawa firefighters, but said it was “unsettling” to be stranded on the tracks for so long.

“What was most unfortunate thing to see were the many young babies and elderly people who had not prepared for such an eventuality."

The fire caused $800,000 damage to the locomotive, said Acting-Platoon Chief Steve O'Neil. A fire inspector attended the scene Sunday night and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Passengers, who were forced to leave their luggage on the train, can retrieve their bags at the Ottawa Station until it closes at 10:30 p.m.