Transport Canada supports the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's recommendation following the Gogama, Ontario train derailment

OTTAWA, Nov. 3, 2017 /CNW/ - Rail safety is a top priority for Transport Canada and the department aims to make railway operations as safe as possible by establishing strict rules, regulations and standards for Canada's railway system.

On November 1, 2017, Transport Canada informed the Transportation Safety Board of Canada that the department fully supports the Board's recommendation to acquire rail surface condition data and incorporate it into its planning cycle for regulatory train track inspections. This follows the Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the March 7, 2015 main track derailment of a Canadian National Railway train carrying crude oil near Gogama, Ontario. The investigation report concluded that a broken portion of the track was the main cause of the derailment.

Transport Canada confirmed it has requested data on rail surface condition from the Canadian National Railway and from the Canadian Pacific Railway; both have agreed to provide the information to the department on an on-going basis. The information will be used to supplement the data that informs the department's regulatory track inspections starting in 2018-19.

Transport Canada shares the Transportation Safety Board's commitment to advancing the safety of Canada's transportation system and is committed to working with our partners to further enhance the safety of Canada's railway system. The department continues to take strong action to safeguard Canadians that live along our rail corridors.

Quote

"I am deeply concerned every time there's a derailment in Canada, whether it's on a private, provincial or federal route. Rail safety is my top priority as Minister of Transport. My department is continuously looking for ways to make our railway system safer for Canadians. I thank the Transportation Safety Board of Canada for its thorough work in investigating the main track derailment near Gogama, Ontario."

The Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport

"I commend the residents of Gogama who, during a difficult time, supported the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigation into the March 2015 train derailment that impacted their community. I am pleased that Minister Garneau and the Department of Transport are supporting the TSB recommendation to acquire rail surface condition data from CN and CP on an ongoing basis to inform the department's risk based track inspections in 2018-2019, and I am confident that the adoption of the TSB recommendation will improve prevention of similar incidents from occurring in the future."

Marc Serré,
Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt

Quick facts

• Under the Railway Safety Act, railway companies are responsible for the safety of their rail line infrastructure, railway equipment, and operations. This includes ongoing inspections, testing, and maintenance programs in accordance with regulatory requirements, as well as any particular operating and environmental conditions.
  
  
• Railway companies must conduct risk assessments of key routes over which key trains are operated. Companies must consider, at a minimum, 28 safety and security factors when conducting risk assessments, including environmental and emergency response capacity considerations.

Associated Links
For more information about the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's investigation report, please visit http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/rail/2015/r15h0021/r15h0021.asp

SOURCE Transport Canada

Delphine Denis, Office of the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, [email protected], 613-991-0700; Media Relation, Transport Canada, Ottawa, [email protected], 613-993-0055