Officials with the city of London want to be ready if there is ever a major rail accident in the city.

City staff and municipal workers from across the region are continuing the conversation this week about what they would do if a rail disaster on the scale of the Lac Megantic tragedy happened closer to home.

CN and CP training experts will bring a 911 training tank car and an emergency foam deployment trailer to help educate officials on how they handle emergency scenarios.

“CN is committed to maintaining a good relationship with the City of London to ensure community safety,” said Michael Farkouh, CN Vice-President Safety and Sustainability. “We are proud to be partnering with London’s Community Emergency Management Program Committee and industry partners on this multi day awareness training program. The training will provide participants with an understanding of how to safely and effectively respond to rail incidents involving hazardous material and dangerous goods, through a combination of hands-on practical and theoretical practice.”

The training will take place at the CN Rail Yard south of the Western Fair District between Rectory and Egerton each day this week between the hours of 8am and 4pm.

The public is being warned that emergency lights and some special effects will be used in the training, but there is no reason to be concerned.