Safety board calls on Transport Canada to adopt automatic train control technology

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) yesterday released its investigation report of the Nov. 21, 2023, collision between a CN train and an Exo commuter train at the St-Leonard-Montreal-Nord station in Montreal.

The investigation found that the CN train crew had passed a restricting signal requiring them to limit their speed and be prepared to stop. However, believing the track ahead was clear, the train was accelerated. By the time the stationary commuter train became visible, it was too late to avoid the collision and subsequent derailment, TSB officials said in a press release.

The collision underscores the "urgent need" for Canada's railway to adopt physical fail-safe train controls that can automatically slow or stop trains when crews miss or misinterpret signal indications, TSB officials said.

For nearly 25 years, the board has called for the adoption of such technology. In 2022, Transport Canada announced plans to require these systems on the highest-risk corridors; however, progress has since stalled, and critical steps such as corridor risk assessments remain incomplete, TSB officials said.

In light of recent occurrences, the TSB reiterated its previous recommendation and issued a new one that calls on Transport Canada to immediately implement interim measures to mitigate the risks associated with train crews not complying with railway signal indications, such as collisions between trains, until adequate and permanent physical fail-safe defenses are implemented, TSB officials said.