Canada safety panel cites inadequate train handling, fatigue in CP derailment

A combination of "inadequate train handling and employee fatigue" led to last year's Canadian Pacific train derailment in the Alyth Yard in Calgary, Alberta, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada announced this week.

Thirteen cars derailed Feb. 18, 2016, in the yard as train crews were performing a switching operation. No one was injured and no dangerous materials were released, according to a TSB press release.

"Specific train handling requirements relating to the maximum locomotive throttle for the occurrence location were not followed," TSB officials stated.

The investigation also raised fatigue management as a contributing factor. One of the train crew members "was likely fatigued after having had poor quality sleep in the two weeks prior and having been awake for 23 hours at the time" of the derailment, the report stated.

"Fatigue management is a shared responsibility," TSB officials said in the press release. "Employees have a responsibility to make every effort to report to work well rested while the company has a responsibility to provide a system that allows them to do so, including procedures to remove themselves from eligibility for duty without fear of discipline."

The TSB included fatigue management as a safety issue on its Watchlist 2016.