No. P02/06
For release March 7, 2006
TRANSPORT CANADA REVISES CN’S
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS IN THE SQUAMISH AREA
VANCOUVER — Transport Canada today announced that the Canadian National
Railway Company (CN) must retain a number of special safety requirements while
operating on the Squamish route. CN has also received permission to increase the
length of their distributed power operated northbound trains from 99 cars to a
maximum of 114 cars in the area. This action follows completion of CN’s 60-day
trial period on the rail line on February 11, 2006.
During the 60-day trial period, CN had to abide by a strict set of safety
requirements to demonstrate they could operate safely on the Squamish route.
Transport Canada inspectors carefully monitored their operations. There were no
incidents.
A new Notice and Order, based on Transport Canada’s review of CN’s safety
actions during the 60-day trial period, was issued effective today. The Notice
and Order stipulates that CN must retain the following safety requirements:
restrictions on how empty cars are handled, tests throughout the route to verify
distributed power is working properly, a CN supervisor to augment and train any
new crew member on the route, reduction of the number of stops on route, and
special stall and emergency stop procedures. Transport Canada is allowing CN to
increase the length of their distributed power operating northbound trains by 15
cars, in the Squamish area (the recent derailments have all occurred while
trains have been travelling north). However, the length of CN’s conventional
trains operating northbound in the Squamish area will still be restricted to 80
cars.
Transport Canada inspectors will continue to monitor trains on the Squamish
route to ensure full compliance with the Railway Safety Act. The new Notice and
Order will also be in effect for a 60-day trial. Any further changes to CN’s
operations in the Squamish area will depend on Transport Canada’s assessment of
those trial results.
Today’s announcement revokes the Notice and Order issued to CN on December 14,
2005.
A conventional train has locomotives at the front of the train pulling the rail
cars. A distributed power operated train has locomotives at the front of the
train as well as in the body of the train to push and pull the rail cars. This
distributes power and traction more equally throughout the length of the train.
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is currently investigating the recent CN
derailments to determine the causes. Transport Canada is closely following the
TSB’s ongoing investigations through a Minister’s Observer who was appointed
after the accidents. The Minister’s Observer will advise the department of any
regulatory responsibilities the department may have, and if necessary identify
areas where immediate improvements to safety can be made.
As the railway regulator, Transport Canada is responsible under the Railway
Safety Act for promoting, monitoring and enforcing compliance with existing
rules and regulations. A Notice and Order is issued under Section 31 of the
Railway Safety Act, when in the opinion of a Transport Canada railway safety
inspector, there is an immediate threat to safe railway operations.
- 30 -
Contact: |
|
Rod Nelson,
Transport Canada Communications,
Vancouver
(604) 666-1675
|
|
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
|