Unattended Train: Laggan Subdivision (near Field, British Columbia)
LOCATION: LAGGAN SUBDIVISION (NEAR FIELD, BRITISH COLUMBIA)
ISSUE: ON FEBRUARY 15, 2021, CANADIAN PACIFIC (CP) LEFT A TRAIN UNATTENDED WITHOUT HANDBRAKES NEAR FIELD, BRITISH COLUMBIA
DATE: March 17, 2021
SUGGESTED RESPONSES
- Transport Canada is reviewing the incident involving an unattended train at the Laggan subdivision, near Field, British Columbia, on February 15, 2021.
- Taking immediate action to protect public safety, Transport Canada issued a Notice and Order to Canadian Pacific Railway. This Notice and Order ensures that unattended trains at this location will be secured with handbrakes, which will prevent uncontrolled movements.
- Review of this incident is still ongoing and Transport Canada cannot comment further on the circumstances of the incident.
- However, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action for non-compliance, if warranted.
Background information
- On February 15, 2021, a Canadian Pacific (CP) train was left unattended on a grade at the Laggan subdivision (near Field, British Columbia), for more than two hours with no handbrakes applied to the cars. In response to this incident, Transport Canada issued a Notice and Order to the Canadian Pacific Railway, which ensures that unattended trains at this location will be secured with handbrakes. Examination of this occurrence is ongoing and the department will not hesitate to take enforcement action for non-compliance, if warranted.
- In February 2019, immediately following a derailment also near Field, British Columbia, Transport Canada issued a Ministerial Order to mandate the use of handbrakes when a train is stopped on a steep grades. The Department has since made these measures permanent by incorporating them into the Canadian Rail Operating Rules in April 2020.
- Transport Canada has taken many steps to strengthen rail safety, including implementing stricter rules to secure trains and reduce the risk of uncontrolled movement of rail equipment. Examples include:
- On March 10, 2021 Transport Canada issued two Ministerial Orders, requiring the railway companies to prevent accidental release of a train’s air brakes, and improve performance standards for rollaway protection.
- On October 8, 2020, Transport Canada issued a Ministerial Order that required the rail industry to prevent uncontrolled movement while conducting switching operations.
- In 2015, Transport Canada established rules for handbrakes according to train tonnage and grade.