Report highlights rail safety concerns
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its findings in relation to the derailment of a Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) train near Bassano, Alberta, on July 13, 2022. The incident, which involved 41 derailed grain cars, was attributed to a track buckle caused by deteriorating track conditions and increased rail stress.
According to the report (R22C0065), the westbound train on CP’s Brooks Subdivision experienced a sudden track misalignment at Mile 97.4 at 4:18 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. The train, which was traveling at 44 mph, was carrying 203 hopper cars loaded with grain. The derailment resulted in 39 cars spilling varying amounts of grain onto the ground. Fortunately, no hazardous materials were involved, no fire occurred, and there were no injuries.
The TSB’s investigation revealed that the track structure in the area was significantly degraded, reducing lateral stability and increasing susceptibility to buckling under pressure. Although CP had undertaken risk mitigation measures three years prior to the incident, the measures were insufficient to counteract the persistent compressive forces that built up in the rail over time. These forces, combined with the dynamic load of the train, caused the track to shift out of alignment.
The TSB also identified key factors that contributed to the rapid deterioration of the track, including the introduction of heavier unit trains and a substantial rise in rail traffic in recent years. Inspection data prior to the derailment showed clear signs of track vulnerability, but this information was not analyzed to identify trends or potential safety issues. Additionally, CP’s safety management system (SMS) was found lacking, as no documented evidence showed that it had been applied to proactively address risks.
The report emphasized that without effective risk management practices within railway companies, derailments on main tracks are likely to persist. This aligns with the TSB’s ongoing efforts to address SMS effectiveness as part of its Watchlist of key safety issues.
Following the derailment, CP undertook significant track renewal work and adjusted its maintenance procedures to enhance safety and reduce the likelihood of future incidents.
Further details on the investigation can be found on the TSB website.
