Train marshalling contributed to January 2015 Canadian Pacific Railway derailment near Stoney Creek, British Columbia

RICHMOND, BC, June 30, 2016 /CNW/ - In its investigation report (R15V0003) into the January 2015 Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) derailment near Stoney Creek, British Columbia, released today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) concluded that not following marshalling rules appropriate to the route contributed to the occurrence. There were no injuries and no dangerous goods were involved.

On 13 January 2015, a CP freight train travelling westward on the north main track of the Mountain Subdivision derailed 6 empty platforms near Stoney Creek, British Columbia. The derailment occurred on the Stoney Creek Bridge at Mile 76.7. The investigation determined that the six empty platforms from two intermodal flat cars derailed when the train was proceeding under high power in an 8.75 degree curve while ascending a 2.2% grade.

The train had been re-routed due to impending train delays and congestion on the adjacent track. Believing that the revised routing was operationally acceptable, the train crew did not completely re-verify the train for all applicable marshalling conditions, despite marshalling violations identified by Train Area Marshalling (TrAM), CP's computerized train marshalling tool. Further, the investigation determined that there were no specific instructions for re-verifying a train for TrAM violations before it is re-routed. In addition, the director of rail traffic control was in a fatigued state at the time the decision was made to re-route the train; however, it could not be determined whether fatigue played a role in the director not verifying that the train was TrAM compliant.

Following the occurrence, CP made changes to its rail equipment scanner system to provide TrAM violation alerts when a train marshalling restriction is identified after a train passes the scanner. The railway company also made changes to the roles and responsibilities of the rail traffic controller with respect to TrAM. CP's General Operating Instructions were also updated.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.

The TSB is online at www.tsb.gc.ca. Keep up to date through RSS, Twitter (@TSBCanada), YouTube, Flickr and our blog.

SOURCE Transportation Safety Board of Canada

Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Media Relations, 819-994-8053, [email protected]