The long-standing effort to cease train whistles at several Newcastle crossings in Clarington has reached another hurdle. Following a recent request from Canadian National Railway (CN) for additional safety measures, Clarington council will review the matter at a meeting in January 2026.
Council members had been hopeful that the completion of safety upgrades would lead to the long-awaited cessation of train whistles at Cobbledick Road and Bennett Road crossings. However, CN has requested further work before agreeing to stop the whistles, specifically requiring additional fencing at both locations.
“Many hours of time, effort, and money have gone into this initiative, both for residents and municipal staff,” said Karen Tremblay, president of the Wilmot Creek Homeowners Association. “The upgrades that were needed have been completed, and I’m sure all of us hoped that this would finally be realized.”
Under the Railway Safety Act of 1988, trains are required to whistle at all level crossings unless a whistle cessation agreement is reached with municipalities. However, train safety will always remain a priority, meaning that even if an agreement is reached, it cannot guarantee that whistles will never be used again.
Darryl Lyons, deputy chief administrative officer of planning and infrastructure for Clarington, explained that there is no certainty that the additional work will lead to whistle cessation. The issue is set to be discussed at the next general government committee meeting on January 12, 2026.
A Timeline of Train Whistle Cessation Efforts in Clarington:
- January 2012: A petition from residents called for a ban on train whistles at crossings in Courtice. While the request was rejected, council agreed to investigate installing gate arms at specific crossings in Courtice and Newcastle.
- July 2018: Despite repeated requests over the years, council rejected all calls for train whistle bans due to safety concerns. However, a petition from the Wilmot Creek Homeowners Association led to a council decision to explore whistle cessation at all Clarington crossings.
- July 2020: Council directed staff to investigate funding options for safety upgrades at Newcastle crossings to enable whistle cessation.
- May 2021: After an unsuccessful application to Transport Canada’s railway safety improvement program, council voted to re-apply for funding for upgrades at Cobbledick and Bennett crossings.
- December 2021: With planned growth in Newcastle, residents renewed calls for whistle cessation, prompting council to explore similar initiatives in Markham and York Region.
- January 2025: With funding secured, Clarington council approved safety upgrades at Cobbledick and Bennett crossings, with costs estimated at $560,000 and $960,000, respectively.
- May 2025: Clarington council released a notice of intent to pursue whistle cessation at the two Newcastle crossings upon the completion of safety upgrades.
- December 2025: CN declined the whistle cessation request and requested further safety improvements, such as fencing, before agreeing to end the whistles. CN is scheduled to address council at the January 12, 2026 meeting.
Photo Credits :Durham Region
