December 18, 2025 – Interior of Rail Car (Image Credit: The City of Cranbrook)
On Monday night, Cranbrook Council approved the removal of 7 rail cars parked on City-owned land behind 209 Van Horne St S, which is behind the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort.
The Remedial Action Resolution was brought forward to Council as a result of an ongoing issue that has lasted years.
City staff describe the rail cars as a nuisance, unsightly and presenting hazardous conditions.
It is unclear how the cars originally ended up on City land, but both previous and current owners have been aware of the City’s concerns.
Since purchasing the seven rail cars at the end of 2023, City staff say the current owner and their representatives have remained in contact with the City, saying they intend to remove them.
Despite repeated requests and legal correspondence, it has not happened.
The report to the council noted that the owner was formally required to secure the rail cars and begin removing them. Although some work was completed, inspections showed that multiple access points were unsecured.
City staff describe the rail cars as being in a deteriorated condition, with easy access to them making it a place for unauthorized occupation and illicit activity.
In the report, The Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort says they have observed small fires outside the rail cars, ongoing drug use around them, and an extension cord from inside the cars hooked up to the hotel’s power.
It has been reported that the Cranbrook RCMP have received several reports and responded to calls, including finding a firearm within one of the rail cars in March.
The report presented says that the rail cars are not suitable for habitation and may contain sharp metal edges, unstable flooring, confined spaces, and other structural hazards.
The council voted in favour of the Remedial Action, and the owner is required to remove the rail cars from the property within 60 days.
If not completed, the City may undertake any actions necessary to remove the cars at the owner’s expense.
To read the full report from the City, click here.
March 6, 2026 – Aerial view of rail cars (Image Credit: The City of Cranbrook)
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