New site tracks ION train collisions in Waterloo Region
Posted Mar 6, 2025 02:42:25 PM.
Last Updated Mar 6, 2025 02:42:30 PM.
The heavy snowfall that the region experienced last month isn’t the only thing slowing down ION trains, so are collisions.
It’s been six days since the last ION train collision in the region, which happened at the intersection of Agnes Street and King Street in Kitchener.
A new site launched recently called ION Crash Counter reports the number of days since the last collision occurred in the region and data from previous ones since the trains were first rolled out in 2019.
Last year, the website noted 11 collisions involving ION trains, mainly with cars, three of which were in December.
The site isn’t affiliated with the Region of Waterloo or Grand River Transit.
“Most collisions are minor, most collisions happen at intersections where another vehicle has turned in front of a moving train,” said Neil Malcolm, the Acting Director of Transit Services, told CityNews Kitchener in an interview.
“Over the years from 2019 through to now, I think it’s fair to say we’ve seen a reduction in collisions, as people became more familiar with the system.”
Malcolm mentioned that whenever a collision does occur involving an ION train, they investigate, trying to continuously improve safety for travellers. They also run buses whenever a collision happens to get travellers to their destination.
“There’s probably been a few more collisions in the last six months then we certainly like to see or anticipate. But again, it really comes back to reminding all of us, to stay alert when your driving, if you’re a pedestrian or a cyclist, know the trains are there, know your driving parallel to the train track,” he said.
Places where the tracks run alongside roadways tend to be the most problematic for drivers, added Malcolm, giving King Street in Kitchener as an example of an area where they see more incidents occur.
Besides collisions, Malcolm said the record amount of snowfall that the region saw in February also caused service disruptions as it took time to clear snow off the tracks.
