CN Rail responds as residents push for action on deteriorating Bath Road rail crossing

This section is Presented

This section was produced by the editorial department. The client was not given the opportunity to put restrictions on the content or review it prior to publication.

by HAVEN HOME HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING[1]

Breadcrumb Trail Links

  1. News[2]
  2. Local News[3]

Safety concerns mount as CN commits to August repair Published Aug 19, 2025  o  Last updated 1 hour ago  o  4 minute read

CN Rail Local residents say safety concerns and frequent vehicle damage have turned the Bath Road railway crossing into a "hubcap graveyard." Photo by Jonathan Reilly /jpg, KI, apsmc

Article content

The Bath Road railway crossing, near Armstrong Road, has become a dangerous obstacle for drivers, cyclists, and mobility-device users, according to local residents.

Advertisement 2

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

The Kingston Whig Standard

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your community.

  • Unlimited online access to all articles on thewhig.com.
  • Access to subscriber-only content, including History: As We Saw It, a weekly newsletter that rips history from our archives, which span almost 190 years.
  • Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
  • Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your community.

  • Unlimited online access to all articles on thewhig.com.
  • Access to subscriber-only content, including History: As We Saw It, a weekly newsletter that rips history from our archives, which span almost 190 years.
  • Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
  • Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.

REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Create an account or sign in to keep reading.

  • Access more articles from thewhig.com.
  • Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
  • Get email updates from your favourite journalists.

THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

  • Access articles from across Canada with one account
  • Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
  • Enjoy additional articles per month
  • Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

or

Article content Just days before the area is to be closed for road work, residents specifically point out that wood planks on the crossing are deteriorating and leading to alleged vehicle damage and safety hazards persisting for more than two years since the 2023 derailment.

On Tuesday morning, the City of Kingston announced the closure of Bath Road between Centennial Drive and Portsmouth Avenue from 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug.

26, to 6 a.m. on Saturday, Aug.

30, to allow CN Railway to complete outstanding rail crossing repairs safely and as quickly as possible. For Kingston resident Faye Ransom, who passes over the crossing often, the trouble began shortly after the derailment. She said the quick repairs that followed were never enough to restore the crossing to a safe condition.

The Kingston Whig-Standard's Noon News Roundup

Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Thanks for signing up!

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of The Kingston Whig-Standard's Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox.

Article content

Advertisement 3

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content "I first noticed it back in 2023, when that derailment happened and it never got fixed quite good enough.

And then it just kept deteriorating over the years," Ransom said in an interview with the Whig. She later added seasonal weather has only made things worse. "After we had the snow, the rain, or whatever, it just sinks more.

And we believe it's the wood part, not the railway itself." Eventually, Ransom said she began contacting CN directly to press for answers. She followed up regularly but said she was given conflicting answers.

"One time, (a CN employee) said it was going to be August, and then she said, well, that's subject to change." She also followed up with the city, including the mayor's office and her local city councillors. Coun.

Don Amos, who represents the district where the crossing is located, said he shares residents' frustrations with the pace of progress, explaining the city has exhausted its options and have to wait on CN.

Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

"CN is dragging their feet and is causing all of us frustration. It sounds like from the mayor's office response, that work is coming. Slowly."

In an interview with the Whig, city officials have also acknowledged that residents have raised concerns and say the responsibility lies with CN. Luke Folwell, director of engineering services for the City of Kingston, explained that city crews have only been able to do small repairs nearby. "We did some patchwork on the road work itself with our public works team, and (have) been working with CN to get the level crossing upgraded," Folwell said.

Folwell also confirmed that CN set a date to begin construction, just one day after the Whig reached out for a statement. "We just received notification that they've got a crew and they're going to mobilize on August 26. It'll be a full closure on Bath Road."

Advertisement 5

Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content When asked whether the city had any other options to push CN to act more quickly, Folwell said, "We can't fix the crossing, so CN has to do it," he said, adding that he's not aware of any authority allowing them to force CN to act.

"This is a CN crossing. We've got crossing agreements to talk about who can do what, and CN (is) the one that needs to conduct the work." Ransom's husband, Bud Nelson, often crosses the tracks by bike and added his concerns with it.

He said the crossing surface is breaking down more each season. "To me, it's not so much the wood is sunk, the wood is falling apart. It's the wooden plank surface and over time, they've deteriorated.

I noticed this last fall and I thought 'if they let this go much longer in the fall, it's going to get bad,' and sure enough, come spring, it's worse and now come summer, it's even worse," Nelson said.

Advertisement 6 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

While Nelson has learned to slow down and navigate the bumps, Ransom has noticed that not everyone is able to cross as easily, explaining she's seen elderly people in motorized scooters finding it difficult to get over the crossing. The crossing has also become a place where residents routinely find broken parts of cars. Nelson recalled, "There's hubcaps there all the time.

I (even) spotted a grill, which was not like it had hit another car, it had apparently just fallen off the car, and the guy probably never even knew it." Ransom said the situation has gone on too long without resolution. "I think it's a dangerous situation actually crossing over that railway, and I think they should take the citizens and their vehicles under consideration."

In a statement emailed to the Whig yesterday by CN Media Relations Adviser Michelle Hannan, the company reiterated its plans to have the work completed before the end of the month.

"Safety is a core value at CN and all rail crossings are regularly inspected," the email said. "Crossing safety and rehabilitation is a joint responsibility between CN and municipalities and we are working with the City of Kingston to have the crossing on Bath Road repaired.

CN is planning to repair this crossing by the end of August, weather and resources permitting."

Article content

Share this article in your social network

Comments

Join the Conversation

References

  1. ^ Link to HAVEN HOME HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING Advertorial (Leaving The Kingston Whig Standard) (www.havenhomeclimatecare.ca)
  2. ^ News (www.thewhig.com)
  3. ^ Local News (www.thewhig.com)