B.C. unintentional railway deaths more than double in first eight months of 2026
Thirteen deaths recorded January through August, up from six in the same period last year. B.C. chief coroner warns of 'alarming increase' and urges caution at crossings.
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B.C. has recorded 13 unintentional railway deaths in the first eight months of 2026, more than double the six deaths in the same period last year, prompting a stark warning from provincial officials.
Dr. Jatinder Baidwan, B.C.'s chief coroner, called it "an alarming increase in unintentional railway deaths so far in 2026." More than half the deaths occurred in the Lower Mainland, with two fatal strikes reported in the Fraser Valley within the past month, including one in Mission on September 17.
The deaths cluster in urban settings and are not related to motor-vehicle incidents, according to B.C. Coroners Service spokesperson Amber Schinkel. The service has not yet identified a cause for the sharp rise in recent months.
Baidwan urged vigilance at rail crossings, noting that "trains move faster and take longer to stop than you think they do." Shawn Will, CN's chief of police, echoed the message: "Every crossing and every set of tracks deserves your full attention."
Across Canada, train-related fatalities hit a five-year high of 71 in 2025. Through the end of July 2026, Canada recorded 42 train deaths, compared with the same period of 2025. Railway incidents result in serious injuries and fatalities across the country each year.
Why has there been a sharp increase in accidental rail deaths in recent months when they have been relatively stable for years?
Are any neighbourhoods or crossings showing a higher concentration of incidents, and should warnings be focused there?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
Where in B.C. did most of these deaths occur?
More than half the deaths occurred in the Lower Mainland, with two fatal strikes reported in the Fraser Valley within the past month, including one in Mission on September 17, 2026.
What does B.C.'s chief coroner say about the increase?
Dr. Jatinder Baidwan called it 'an alarming increase in unintentional railway deaths so far in 2026' and urged vigilance at rail crossings, noting that trains move faster and take longer to stop than people typically realize.
