Residents in Cochrane's East end neighbourhoods were startled by the sound of screeching train brakes followed by crossing bells sounding for a couple of hours on Monday night.

Cochrane RCMP's Corporal Troy Savinkoff says that at approximately 9:30 p.m. on July 19 a motor vehicle accident happened on Railway Avenue in close proximity of the train tracks.

"A motor vehicle lost control and went through a fence and stopped adjacent to the railway," explains Savinkoff. "As a result of the collision, the train was stopped and blocked at least two intersections crossing in town for approximately two hours."

Savinkoff says that the interruption in service was due to the location of the vehicle, however, the train and vehicle didn't come into contact.

"Due to the proximity of the vehicle to the railway tracks it wasn't safe for the train to go by," explains Savinkoff. "Subsequently it had to stop and wait for the collision scene to be cleared away before normal train functions continued."

A 45-year-old man from Cochrane was the lone occupant of the vehicle and he didn't sustain any serious injuries.

Savinkoff  says that "United Towing was called in and towed the vehicle. “ He continues to say that “the investigation into the collision continues.”