Chair Kathy Fox statement on the release of new tank car standards
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is pleased to acknowledge the updated railway tank car standards and the associated implementation schedule announced by the Minister of Transport.
The TSB has been calling for improvement to railway tank cars for several years and has reiterated these calls following recent occurrences involving crude oil train derailments. The new standards and timelines announced today are important steps in addressing outstanding recommendations, including those stemming from the TSB's investigation into the Lac-Mégantic accident.
The TSB will carefully review the new tank car standards and the implementation timeline for retrofitting the existing Class 111 cars used for flammable liquid service as part of its normal process for the reassessment of responses to safety recommendations.
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.
For more information, contact:
Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Media Relations
Telephone: 819-360-4376
Email: media@tsb.gc.ca