R07D0111 - Crossing Collision, VIA Rail Canada Inc., Passenger Train Number 35, Mile 23.57, Canadian National Kingston Subdivision, Pincourt/Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Quebec, 17 December 2007 (R09-01)(R09-02)
TSB Full-Text Report (R07D0111):
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2007/r07d0111/r07d0111.asp
TSB Recommendation R09-01
From the TSB Final Report - Assessment of Level Crossings on the Québec - Windsor Rail Corridor:
The Board recommends that:
"Transport Canada conduct safety assessments of level crossings on the high-speed passenger rail Québec-Windsor corridor and ensure that defences are adequate to mitigate the risk of truck / train collisions." (R09-01)
Transport Canada's Response (R09-01)
(signed by the Minister on June 10th, 2009)
Transport Canada (TC) has carefully and thoroughly reviewed the Board's recommendation R09-01, and TC agrees in principle with the Board's recommendation. However, safety assessments at grade crossings are conducted jointly by railway companies and road authorities. They are the responsible parties at a grade crossing and have all the information pertaining to their respective current and future operations. For the Board's information, TC did not conduct the safety assessments when VIA increased the speed from 95 to 100 miles per hour (mph).
With respect to safety assessments on the high speed passenger rail Québec-Windsor corridor, VIA Rail is in the process of conducting safety assessments of level crossings on its portion of the Chatham and Smiths Falls Subdivisions, on Canadian Pacific's (CP) Brockville Subdivision and on Goderich Exeter Railway (GEXR) Guelph Subdivision. CN has recently conducted safety assessments of private crossings on the Kingston Subdivision and are planning further safety assessments, jointly with VIA, of public and private crossings on portions of the Kingston Subdivision.
The Department takes very seriously every recommendation made by the Board and will continue to monitor the railway activities on the high speed passenger corridor between Québec and Windsor.
TSB Recommendation R09-02
From the TSB Final Report - Conspicuity of Emergency Contact Information:
The Board recommends that:
"Transport Canada implement standards to improve the visibility of emergency contact signage at railway crossings in Canada." (R09-02)
Transport Canada's Response (R09-02)
(signed by the Minister on June 10th, 2009)
With respect to Recommendation R09-02, TC accepts the recommendation and is currently investigating the implementation of special signage for emergency contact numbers and, based on the results, TC will work at having them incorporated in a sign in its Technical Standards and Inspection, Testing and Maintenance Requirements manual.
R06V0136- Runaway/Derailment, Canadian National, Freight Train L-567-51-29, Mile 184.8, Lillooet Subdivision Near Lillooet, British Columbia, 29 June 2006 (R09-03)
TSB Full-Text Report (R06V0136):
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2006/r06v0136/r06v0136.asp
TSB Recommendation R09-03
Canadian National’s Safety Management – (Action required, as presented in the TSB Report)
The Board recommends that:
“Canadian National take effective action to identify and mitigate risks to safety as required by its safety management system, and the Department of Transport require Canadian National to do so.” (R09-03)
Transport Canada's Response (R09-03)
(signed by the Minister on August 14, 2009)
Transport Canada (TC) accepts the recommendation directed at both Canadian National (CN) and TC. The Department has noted the action taken in the attached response from CN dated June 16, 2009 to the TSB recommendation which TC believes will improve CN’s Safety Management System (SMS) and related risk mitigation processes.
Further in this regard, to enhance the regulatory regime for the broader rail industry, a Ministerial Order on "Railway Locomotive Inspection and Safety Rules" was issued on May 8, 2009 and another Ministerial Order on "Railway Freight and Passenger Train Brake Inspection and Safety Rules" was issued on July 7, 2009 to all federally regulated railway companies to formulate specific rules requiring dynamic braking on locomotives in certain georgraphical areas.
In addition, the Department has assigned additional resources internally to advance the integration of SMS and audits of the industry at large.
R08T0158- Crossing Collision and Derailment in Mallorytown, on July 15, 2008 (R09-04)
TSB Full-Text Report (R08T0158):
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2008/R08T0158/R08T0158.asp
TSB Recommendation R09-04
From the Transportation Safety Board’s (Board) Final Report – Standardization of Low-Clearance Vehicle Warning Signs:
The Board recommends that:
“Transport Canada work with the provincial governments to expedite the implementation of a national standard for low ground clearance advance warning signs at railway crossings.” (R09-04)
Transport Canada’s Response (R09-04)
(signed by the Minister on March 8th, 2010)
TC accepts the recommendation and is currently working with the Traffic Operation and Management Standing Committee (TOMSC) of the Transportation Association of Canada, to develop a sign for low ground clearance advance warning signs at railway crossings. The TOMSC is organizing and coordinating research for the improvement of traffic control devices and practices in Canada and, disseminating information relating to recommended traffic control practices. A proposal to develop the sign has already been filed with TOMSC and the Board’s Final Rail Investigation Report R08T0158 was distributed to all members of the committee.