Not just for the person involved. But for their friends, their loved ones, anyone who happens to witness it, any railroader involved, and any first responder who may be called to the scene.

The ripple effects of each rail incident are far-reaching.

Compounding the tragic nature of each is a simple fact: almost every single one is avoidable.

It can happen innocently enough. 

Taking a short-cut to make it to a date-night reservation on time.

Walking the dog or hiking along a rail right-of-way you’re *almost sure* is abandoned.

Posing for a selfie at a crossing because the lighting’s ‘just right.’ 

Jumping off a rail bridge into a lake or river below to beat the heat.

Scenes like these are all too common – despite being super dangerous and, in fact, illegal.

They are choices made of pure convenience, with little regard for risk.

Then there are acts like tagging railcars with graffiti, trying to game or beat a train over a crossing, or the truly stupid act of ‘train surfing’ - these are conscious choices made BECAUSE they are risky.

They’re made by people chasing adrenaline or likes on a social post.

And there also are those who choose purposely to try to end their lives on a railway, because they’ve heard it’s efficient. (Note: it doesn’t always work.)

All these decisions – ones big and small – are what we’re up against in the continued drive to get to zero rail-related deaths and injuries in Canada. 

They’re part of the shared responsibility that is the reality of rail safety. We all have a role to play. It’s a collective responsibility.

In recent months, we’ve seen a disturbing and marked spike in the number of people seriously hurt and killed in trespassing incidents. 

In fact, those incidents are up 57% in the first half of this year compared to the five-year average.

Why? Risky decisions like the ones I referred to earlier are part of the reason.

There have been some high-profile and fatal incidents of train surfing, and others that simply didn’t hear or see the train in time.

There are also, anecdotally, people living in housing and homelessness encampments that have popped up at various points along railways who’ve wandered out in front of oncoming train traffic for whatever reason.

And there are far too many people committing suicide by rail in Canada.

The mental health crisis is real, and it is clearly reflected in the statistical spikes we are seeing.

What is less clear is why all of this is happening, and what can be done about it.

That’s why Operation Lifesaver and others have been calling for more research into risky choices people make around tracks and trains. 

We’re actively seeking partners to understand this troubling phenomenon so we can address the psychological and sociographic factors at play with our advocacy, outreach, and marketing-communications.

With finite resources, we need to know how best to cut through the noise and reach the people who might engage in risky behaviours before they do.

It means ensuring they know what resources exist should they wish to reach out for help.

It means helping them find a better, safer path.

There are some in Ottawa’s government office towers who think the answer may lie in more regulations – things like mandating fences all along Canadian rail networks despite these extending more than five times longer than our highway network. (And even though, in high-trespass areas, fences are installed only to be cut and breached within hours or days.)

The answer isn’t regulatory. It’s research to make the outreach tools at our disposal more resonant.

This is Rail Safety Week in Canada. We thank the new transport minister for declaring it so nationally. (We also thank the government for continuing the federal partnership with Operation Lifesaver Canada, which has been in place since 1981.)

Now we need the minister to direct her officials to focus on practical solutions that will address the real, behavioural issues at play so we can stop the spike in trespassing incidents and to help save lives. 

Together, we can get to zero.

Chris Day is Interim National Director for Operation Lifesaver Canada, a rail safety advocacy organization based in Ottawa and with volunteers across the country. For more information on Rail Safety Week visit OperationLifesaver.ca. If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, please call 9-8-8 anytime day or night.