City of Saint John urges vigilance around railways during Rail Safety Week 2025

The City of Saint John is joining communities across Canada to raise awareness about the dangers of unsafe behaviour around railway crossings as part of Rail Safety Week. Rail Safety Week runs from September 15 to 21, 2025. This year’s message is clear and urgent: Never stop on the tracks.

Every year, preventable tragedies occur when vehicles are stopped or stalled on railway tracks. Whether due to traffic congestion, distraction, or misjudgment, stopping on the tracks puts lives at risk.

Rail crossings are not places to pause. Trains can’t swerve or stop quickly. If your vehicle is on the tracks when a train is coming, the consequences can be catastrophic.

The City of Saint John reminds all drivers to:

• Know your route and avoid stopping on tracks due to traffic backups.
• Look both ways and listen for trains before crossing.
• Never try to beat a train. It is faster and closer than it appears.
• If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, exit immediately and move away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle toward the direction the train is coming from.
• Some rail crossings in Saint John include two sets of rail tracks.  Keep this in mind to ensure you can completely cross both sets of tracks.

Rail Safety Week is a national initiative led by Operation Lifesaver Canada, in partnership with municipalities, law enforcement, and rail companies. Saint John is proud to support this campaign and encourages residents to practice safe habits around train tracks.

For more information on rail safety and how you can help prevent accidents, visit www.operationlifesaver.ca.

Here to help – For inquiries related to municipal services, contact the City of Saint John Customer Service Centre at (506) 658-4455, email [email protected] or visit us in person on the Ground Floor of City Hall, 15 Market Square, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays), 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.