TSB: Inadequate track conditions led to CN train derailment

Inadequate track conditions led to a CN train derailment near Faust, Alberta, in June 2014, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada announced yesterday in its report.

The derailment resulted in no injuries or product release. Approximately 1,200 feet of track was damaged in the incident, however.

The incident occurred June 11, 2014, when the last 20 cars of an eastbound CN train derailed at Mile 202.3 of the Slave Lake Subdivision. The cars included 17 Class 111A tank cars that contained diesel fuel residue, TSB officials said in a press release.

The train was made up of four locomotives, one of which was isolated, and 126 cars. Of the cars, 105 were loaded, including 20 that contained petroleum crude oil. Four of the cars were empty.

TSB determined that the derailment occurred when the track shifted laterally under the passing train because of irregular and insufficient rail anchoring, unstable subgrade and a build-up of stress in the rail generated by the train descending the grade, TSB officials said.

The investigation also highlighted that the stress had likely accumulated in the track due to repeated exposure to braking forces from previous eastbound trains on the long descending grade, they said.