Rail transportation

Information about tank cars that carry flammable liquids

The occurrence

On 14 February 2015, a Canadian National Railway (CN) crude oil unit train was proceeding eastward on CN's Ruel Subdivision near Gogama, Ontario. The train was equipped with 2 head-end locomotives hauling 100 Class 111 tank cars loaded with petroleum products (Class 3 flammable liquids). Specifically, 68 cars were carrying Petroleum Crude Oil (UN 1267) and 32 cars were carrying Petroleum Distillates (UN 1268). The train was 6089 feet long and weighed 14 355 tons.

Sequence of events of the September 2013 collision between an OC Transpo bus and a VIA Rail train in Ottawa, Ontario

Safety communications for the investigation into the September 2013 collision between an OC Transpo bus and a VIA Rail train in Ottawa, Ontario

Occurrence

On the morning of September 18, 2013, an OC Transpo double-decker bus collided with a VIA Rail train in Ottawa, Ontario. Six people died, including the bus driver, and about 34 more were injured.

Findings of the investigation into the September 2013 collision between an OC Transpo bus and a VIA Rail train in Ottawa, Ontario

Findings as to causes and contributing factors

1. Although the crossing protection was activated, the bus did not stop as required and struck the train as the train entered the crossing.
2. Locomotive VIA 915's lead truck followed the main track while its rear truck derailed on the Transitway crossing when the locomotive was contacted by the bus chassis.

Investigation findings in the July 2013 rail accident in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec

The investigations conducted by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) are complex, and it is never just one factor that causes an accident. The July 2013 train accident in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, was no exception. There were many factors that caused this accident, the details of which are contained in the 18 findings as to causes and contributing factors. Furthermore, there were 16 additional findings as to risk as well as 6 other findings.

Recommendations ensuing from the rail accident in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) continues to investigate the 6 July 2013 derailment and fire involving a freight train operated by Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA) in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec.

On February 17, 2005, a Canadian National (CN) freight train, proceeding eastward on the CN Kingston Subdivision, struck two pedestrians at the Bartholomew Street public crossing (Mile 124.88), Brockville, Ontario. One pedestrian was fatally injured; the second received serious injuries. The two pedestrians stepped into the path of the eastward train after the passage of a westward train. The Board determined that the two pedestrians stepped into the path of the eastward train while their concentration was fixed on a passing westbound train.

Backgrounder - Wabamun Derailment (R05E0059) - Recommendations

On August 3, 2005, at about 5 o'clock mountain daylight time, a Canadian National freight train, proceeding westward from Edmonton, Alberta, to Vancouver, British Columbia, derailed 43 cars near Wabamun, Alberta. Included were one loaded car of pole treating oil, one car of toluene (UN 1294), and 25 loaded cars of Bunker C (heavy fuel oil). Approximately 700 000 litres of Bunker C and 88 000 litres of pole treating oil were spilled, causing extensive property, environmental, and biological damage.

Backgrounder - Final Investigation Report R04Q0040 August 17, 2004 Derailment of CN Train U-781-21-17 near Lévis, Quebec

At approximately 1440 eastern daylight time on August 17, 2004, 18 tank cars of Canadian National Train U-781-21-17, a petroleum product unit train travelling from the Ultramar Canada Inc. refinery at Lévis, district of Saint-Romuald, Quebec, en route for Montréal, Quebec, derailed at Mile 3.87 of the Lévis Subdivision, in the marshy area of the Grande Plée Bleue, near Saint-Henri-de-Lévis.