The fire at a train derailment in the Canadian province of New Brunswick continues, but is under control, according to railway authorities, who have not yet been able to approach the derailed cars because of the fire. The accident occurred Tuesday (January 7) near the town of Plaster Rock.
Among the cars that derailed some carried crude oil and others were filled with liquefied petroleum gas.
Transport Safety Board investigator Guy Laporte said he was able to observe a cracked wheel on the car toward the front of the train.
“The axle is not broken — I saw that yesterday,” said LaPorte. “The wheel just got inside the rail and dropped to the ground.”
A broken rail was also discovered, he said.
CN (Canadian National) Railways spokesman Jim Feeny confirmed some of the tank cars on the train were the DOT-111 classification, or its Canadian equivalent, but could not say if they were among the derailed cars.
DOT-111 tank cars, called CTC-111A in Canada, were involved in a July train derailment in the neighbouring province of Quebec. The train slammed into the downtown of the city of Lac-Megantic killing 47 people. The train had been carrying a more flammable type of crude oil.
More information:
CBC News – CN derailment probe focuses on problem with car’s wheel-axle – here
Global News – Cracked wheel or broken rail could be cause of train derailment: TSB – here
Globe and Mail – New Brunswick train derailment fire renews questions of oil-by-rail’s dangers – here
Transportation Safety Board of Canada – Plaster Rock, New Brunswick, derailment info – here
RCI – Opposition leader wants return of government inspection of railways – here
Update 10 January 2014:
A team of experts used explosive devices to burn and vent three butane-filled rail cars Friday afternoon. “The burn is needed so that evacuees may return to their homes as soon as possible,” the Department of Public Safety’s Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) stated in a release. “The safety of residents remains the priority.” There is still no indication when residents will be allowed to return to their homes. More here.
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