Article content

Opponents of the Northern Gateway pipeline are threatening to turn their sights on CN Rail, as at least one Alberta oil company explores the possibility of transporting oil sands crude to the B.C. coast by rail car.

Sixteen environmental groups signed a letter sent to Canadian National CEO Claude Mongeau this week to express opposition to any plans to ship product from the Alberta oil sands west by rail.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Northern Gateway opponents target CN Rail Back to video

“Unfortunately, … there are far greater fatality, injury and environmental risks when transporting crude oil by rail than by pipeline,” the letter said.

It cites a study last year by the Manhattan Institute, a right-leaning American think tank that has endorsed construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast after comparing the safety and accident statistics of rail, road and pipelines.

There are far greater fatality, injury and environmental risks when transporting crude oil by rail than by pipeline

“The industry itself acknowledges that trains have nearly three times the number of spills as pipelines (which provides little comfort given Enbridge’s oil spill record),” the letter said.