Main-track derailment
Canadian National Railway Company (CN)
Mile 32.7, Sussex Subdivision
Sussex, New Brunswick
The occurrence
On , at approximately 1510 Atlantic Daylight Time, a Canadian National Railway Company (CN) freight train was travelling westward on the CN Sussex Subdivision when its last 4 cars derailed at Mile 32.7.
The train, en route from Moncton to Saint John, New Brunswick, was composed of 2 head-end locomotives, 35 loaded mixed freight, 7 empty cars, and 10 dangerous goods cars. Three of the derailed tank cars were loaded with liquefied petroleum gas, and the 4th derailed tank car was loaded with methanol, a flammable liquid.
Initial reports indicate there were no dangerous goods released. and no reported injuries. The TSB is investigating.
Investigation information
R23M0050
Main-track derailment
Canadian National Railway Company (CN)
Mile 32.7, Sussex Subdivision
Sussex, New Brunswick
Investigator-in-charge
Dennis Church joined the Transportation Board of Canada (TSB) in January 2019. He brings with him almost 15 years of experience in the railway industry.
Just before joining the TSB, Mr. Church had occupied the position of certified railway car technician for VIA Rail Canada Inc. at its Ottawa Station since 2016. He started his railway career with Ottawa Central Railway (OCR) as a maintenance-of-way employee in 2005. Shortly thereafter, he started a carman apprenticeship. In 2008, after OCR was amalgamated with the Canadian National Railway Company, Dennis was assigned as the mechanical emergency respondent for Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. In this role, he was responsible for responding to emergency calls, incident investigation, dimensional load inspections and rolling stock repairs.
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Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.