Altona's mayor is reluctant to suggest that safety arms should be installed at local rail crossings. The question of why there aren't such precautions already in place has been raised since the Altona Police Service noted earlier this week that motorists seem to be ignoring the rules at such intersections, blowing past officials that are stopping traffic as a train operates in the area.

"When an arm comes down, by the time (it) goes up, the train is long gone," says Melvin Klassen, adding this means it would take a lot longer to clear traffic congestion once the locomotive has passed.

He is quick to note that trains operating in town aren't going fast, merely moving from track to track as cars are loaded and unloaded at Bunge Canada. Klassen says this means there are different regulations than ones in place for busier crossings that see larger trains moving at a faster speed.

That being said, Klassen adds there is a safety compliance agreement in place between the Town of Altona and Bunge.

"We (the Town) are responsible for the maintenance of the crossings, so if there's snow there we are to make sure that is cleaned up." He notes Bunge is responsible for the area between the rails. "They maintain adequate sight lines as per Transport Canada regulations and are also responsible for insulation and maintenance of all present and future crossing signs and grade crossing warning systems as defined by Transport Canada."

He notes Transport Canada also conducts safety assessments of the crossings every five years. "If they feel that there is a need for lights or safety arms they would tell, in this case Bunge, that they have to go up. (Bunge) would then install them and we (the Town) would be responsible for making sure they are maintained."