Canada's Alghabra orders measures to reduce risk of rail accidents

Canadian Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra yesterday issued orders under the Railway Safety Act to further reduce the risk of uncontrolled movements of rail equipment.

The orders were prompted by the uncontrolled movement of a Goderich-Exeter Railway train, which led to a Feb. 1 derailment in Goderich, Ontario, Transport Canada officials said in a press release.

The first order requires railroads to implement specific procedures that locomotive engineers must follow to prevent the uncontrolled movements of railway equipment due to an unintended release of a train’s air brakes. 

The second order requires that the rail industry to add a layer of defense to prevent the uncontrolled movements of railway equipment by proposing amendments to the Railway Locomotive Inspection and Safety Rules and the Canadian Rail Operating Rules (CROR) for the minister’s approval. The amendments will include:

• improving performance standards for locomotives equipped with roll-away protection, which is a feature designed to apply the air brakes when movement is detected; and

• clarifying the definition of an "unattended train" under the CROR for a more consistent application of the rule.