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7/26/2022
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a comment from Canadian Pacific.
Transport Canada yesterday announced the launch of new rail safety measures that align with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's (TSB) recommendations issued in response to the 2019 derailment of a Canadian Pacific train in Field, British Columbia.
The derailment resulted in the deaths of three rail workers. Among the measures announced yesterday, Transport Canada will launch targeted audits of CP by August to assess the effectiveness of the railroad’s safety management systems and training practices.
In addition, Transport Canada will conduct oversight of CP’s health and safety committees to monitor whether the railroad is effectively identifying and addressing hazards, agency officials said in a press release.
Other steps being taken include:
• Federal officials are revising rules aimed at enhancing regular pre-departure inspections and periodic maintenance of air brakes on trains and addressing the elevated risks of operating trains in cold temperatures.
• Railroads will be required to propose revisions to their rules for Transport Minister Omar Alghabra’s approval.
• Railroads will need to develop a winter operating plan for their equipment. That plan would specify actions to be taken when temperatures are very cold, including implementing speed restrictions and performing enhanced inspections.
• Transport Canada in September will launch a working group with rail companies to consider the design and safety parameters of automatic parking brakes. The agency will test automatic braking technology under real-world operating conditions to verify safety and performance.
"Our government's top priority is keeping our railways and workers safe," said Alghabra. "The new actions … directly address the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's recommendations to Transport Canada in their investigation report on the derailment."
The TSB concluded its investigation of the derailment on March 31. CP disputed some of the agency's findings.
A CP spokesperson provided the following response to a request for comment:
"CP still has serious concerns about the inaccuracies and misstatements the TSB made in its investigation report and the news conference held on March 31, 2022, and has expressed those concerns to the TSB and Transport Canada directly. It is essential that TC's regulatory actions are always based on facts and evidence. CP will work with stakeholders in the rail industry to explore meaningful opportunities to further improve safety in a manner that is scientifically-based and technologically sound. That includes engaging in discussions with TC, the Railway Association of Canada, and other industry stakeholders to assess the full magnitude of the challenges inherent with the TSB's Recommendations.
"Audits and oversight give CP an opportunity to demonstrate our industry-leading safety culture, and the effectiveness of our Safety Management System."