Canadian museum to open permanent rail-safety exhibit

Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum in Quebec, in collaboration with Operation Lifesaver, will open a permanent exhibit in April 2016 to educate the public about rail safety, museum officials announced yesterday.

The museum received a "generous" donation from CN last year to begin research into the concept of the exhibit, which will open to coincide with Rail Safety Week.

The "family-oriented" exhibit will feature experiences exploring critical aspects of safety around railroad track and rights of way, as well as encourage conversations about developments in rail safety.

"In 2014, nearly 300 collisions and incidents occurred at level crossings or during intrusions onto private railway property," said Stephen Covey, chair of Operation Lifesaver. "Our mission is to educate the population about dangers around railways and to play a role in reducing the risks."

A display in the museum's entrance hall will highlight the measures the industry has taken to improve safety in railroad operations.

The museum’s announcement comes two years after the tragic accident in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, in which a crude-oil train derailed and exploded in the city's downtown area, killing 47 people.