The mayor of Port Hawkesbury says the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway has informed him it's considering legal action against both him and a local councillor.

With two derailments in two weeks on the CBCNS line, Port Hawkesbury Mayor Billy Joe MacLean​ says he's no closer to knowing what local rail cars carry and he has no answer from the government on whether an independent inspection will be done.

He says he just wants to reassure his citizens that they're safe.

Two weeks ago, MacLean asked the the federal and provincial governments to do an independent inspection of the CBCNS rail lines after Coun. Joe Janega, who is also a structural engineer with 35 years' experience, took his concerns to the mayor.

During Janega’s inspection, he found crumbling bridge supports and rusting steel.

Mayor Billy Joe MacLean asked the the federal and provincial governments to do an independent inspection of the CBCNS rail lines. (CBC)

MacLean and Janega expressed their concerns to the media. They asked to sit down with the railway’s structural engineers. That meeting was scheduled for today but CBCNS Rail cancelled two weeks ago. It has not rescheduled.

Now, MacLean says he's received a letter from the railway’s lawyer, saying it's considering taking legal action against him and Janega.

Maclean says they've been told to stay off the rail lines.

Many people started questioning the safety of their local rail lines following the Lac Mégantic rail disaster last year in Quebec.

In light of the letter, MacLean declined a recorded interview with CBC News.

A call to the railway’s general manager has not yet been returned.