A Canadian government agency responsible for transportation safety “has identified late and missing accident information from the three railway companies it examined”. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) found “a total of 254 occurrences involving these railways had been unreported or reported late to the TSB over a 7-year period.”
“Reporting this information is mandatory and the TSB will consider enforcement action, if required to address non-compliance.” a press release on Monday (October 27) pointed out.
The three railway companies examined are Canadian National (CN), Canadian Pacific (CP), and Montreal, Maine & Atlantic.
It was a train of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic which was left unattended in July of 2013 and derailed in the Canadian town of Lac-Mégantic, killing 47 people when its cargo of crude oil exploded.
“When TSB reporting regulations were changed in July 2014, CP responded quickly and is now fully compliant with the current regulatory requirements,” Canadian Pacific spokesman Martin Cej said in an email Monday
“CP worked closely with the TSB to address the gap in reporting. CP’s new processes and systems are fully in place now and CP continues to work closely with the TSB.”
Referring to the unreported occurrences, CN spokesman Mark Hallan said “All were very minor derailments with very minimal damage, and none involved dangerous goods”
This past summer the board identified 18 key factors it says led to the catastrophe at Lac-Mégantic. Its then chair Wendy Tadros said the booming oil-by-rail sector ran “largely unchecked” across the continent.
More information:
Transportation Safety Board of Canada news release – Data review identifies discrepancies: TSB reminds railways to be more diligent in reporting occurrences – here
National Post – Canada’s biggest railways failed to report accident information over seven-year period, TSB says – here
Vancouver Sun – Safety board takes railways to task over accident reports – here
Reuters – Canada watchdog warns railways on safety reporting problems – here
Transportation Safety Board of Canada – Lac-Mégantic report – here
RCI – Coroner concludes 47 deaths ‘violent, avoidable’, Lac-Megantic train derailment – here
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