The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) gathers and uses transportation occurrence data during the course of its investigations to analyze safety deficiencies and identify risks in the Canadian rail transportation system.
This summary covers federally regulated railways only. Non-federally regulated data reported to the TSB are not included in this report.
It should be noted that certain characteristics of the data constrain statistical analysis and identification of emerging trends. These include the small totals of accidents and incidents, the large variability in the data from year to year, and changes to regulations and definitions. The reader is cautioned to keep these limitations in mind when viewing this summary to avoid drawing conclusions that cannot be supported by statistical analysis.
The 2021 data were collected according to the reporting requirements described in the Transportation Safety Board Regulations in force during that calendar year.
The statistics presented here reflect the TSB Railway Occurrence Database System (RODS) database as of 15 March 2022. Since the occurrence data are constantly being updated in the live database, the statistics may change slightly over time.
Also, as many occurrences are not formally investigated, information recorded on some occurrences may not have been verified.
Accidents Footnote 1
Overview of accidents and casualties
In 2021, 1038 rail accidents were reported to the TSB (Figure 1 and Table 1), up from the 2020 total of 988, but a 3% decrease from the previous 10-year (2011–2020) average of 1071.
Figure 1. Data table
Year | Accidents |
---|---|
2011 | 1071 |
2012 | 1049 |
2013 | 1095 |
2014 | 1048 |
2015 | 1045 |
2016 | 897 |
2017 | 1088 |
2018 | 1168 |
2019 | 1256 |
2020 | 988 |
2021 | 1038 |
Freight trains accounted for 38% of all trains involved in rail accidents in 2021. Four percent (42 in total) were passenger trains, with the remaining 58% comprising mainly single cars/cuts of cars, locomotives, and track units (Table 3).
The largest proportion of reported rail accidents (39%) comprised non-main-track derailmentsFootnote 2 (Figure 2 and Table 1). Typically, most non-main-track accidents have low severity, as they occur during switching operations at speeds of less than 10 mph.
Figure 2. Data table
Type of accident | Accidents |
---|---|
Main-track collisions | 3 |
Main-track derailments | 76 |
Crossing accidents | 135 |
Trespasser accidents | 64 |
Non-main-track collisions | 61 |
Non-main-track derailments | 400 |
Other | 299 |
* Due to rounding of percentages in category labels, additions across accident types should be calculated from Table 1 data rather than by adding percentages shown in Figure 2.
The proportion of accidents that were main-track derailments in 2021 (7%) was approximately the same as both the previous year and the 10-year average.
In 2021, 13% of rail accidents involved vehicles or pedestrians at rail crossings, below the 15% average of the previous 10 years. The proportion of other accident typesFootnote 3 (29%) in 2021 was above the 10-year average (13%). This increase is due primarily to an unusually high number of right of way fires (144) on main-track reported to the TSB in 2021.
In 2021, 86 accidents involved dangerous goods (Table 1),Footnote 4 up from 82 in 2020 but below the 10-year average of 125. Two accidents resulted in a dangerous goods release in 2021, compared with 3 in 2020, and the 10-year average of 4.
Rail fatalities (Figure 3 and Table 1) totalled 60 in 2021, unchanged from last year but below the previous 10-year average of 71. Crossing fatalities totalled 16 in 2021, down from 18 in 2020 and below the 10-year average of 23. TrespasserFootnote 5 fatalities totalled 42 in 2021, up from 40 in the previous year and above the 10-year average of 40. In 2021, 1 railway employee was fatally injured, below the 10-year average of 3 employee fatalities.
Figure 3. Data table
Year | Crossing accidents | Trespasser accidents | All others |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | 25 | 43 | 3 |
2012 | 33 | 44 | 4 |
2013 | 30 | 42 | 52 |
2014 | 21 | 32 | 3 |
2015 | 15 | 30 | 1 |
2016 | 19 | 47 | 0 |
2017 | 19 | 53 | 4 |
2018 | 19 | 34 | 4 |
2019 | 28 | 38 | 6 |
2020 | 18 | 40 | 2 |
2021 | 16 | 42 | 2 |
A total of 51 serious injuries resulted from rail occurrences in 2021 (Figure 4 and Table 1), up from 40 in 2020 but below the 10-year average of 58. Crossing accidentsFootnote 6 resulted in 24 serious injuries, up from 12 in 2020 but below the 10-year average of 26. Trespasser serious injuries totalled 17 in 2021, down from 20 last year and below the 10-year average of 20. Six railway employees were seriously injured in 2021, down from 8 in 2020 and below the 10-year average of 11.
Figure 4. Data table
Year | Crossing accidents | Trespasser accidents | All others |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | 22 | 21 | 9 |
2012 | 32 | 22 | 19 |
2013 | 27 | 10 | 2 |
2014 | 29 | 21 | 3 |
2015 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
2016 | 24 | 20 | 12 |
2017 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
2018 | 42 | 30 | 19 |
2019 | 31 | 17 | 17 |
2020 | 12 | 20 | 8 |
2021 | 24 | 17 | 10 |
The number of main-track accidentsFootnote 7 totalled 353 in 2021 (Figure 5 and Table 1), up from 208 in 2020 and 78% above the 10-year average of 198. As in 2019 and 2020, a portion of main-track accidents in 2021 consists of an unusually high number of right of way fires on main-track reported to the TSB in 2021 (137). Rail activityFootnote 8 on main track (i.e., non-yard) decreased by 1% from the previous year. The main-track accident rate in 2021 was 4.8 accidents per million main-track train miles, up from 2.8 in 2020 and 90% above the 10-year average of 2.5.
Kendall’s tau-b (τb) correlation and Sen’s estimate of slope were used to quantify the trend in main-track accidents and accident rates shown in Figure 5. Kendall's (τb) correlation coefficient is a nonparametric measure of the strength and direction of association that exists between two variables. Kendall’s τb was calculated on the 11-year series of accident rate values by year from 2011 to 2021. There was a moderately strong, positive correlation that indicates an upward trend in accidents per million main-track train miles over the period (τb = 0.6, p < 0.05). Sen’s estimate of slope, the amount of upward rate change per year, was 0.105 occurrences per million main-track miles per year.
Figure 5. Data table
Year | Main-track accidents | Main-track accidents per million main-track train miles | Sen's estimate of rate slope |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | 201 | 2.6 | 2.08 |
2012 | 135 | 1.7 | 2.19 |
2013 | 184 | 2.3 | 2.29 |
2014 | 198 | 2.4 | 2.40 |
2015 | 199 | 2.5 | 2.50 |
2016 | 173 | 2.3 | 2.61 |
2017 | 195 | 2.5 | 2.71 |
2018 | 212 | 2.6 | 2.82 |
2019 | 277 | 3.3 | 2.92 |
2020 | 208 | 2.8 | 3.03 |
2021 | 353 | 4.8 | 3.13 |
Accidents by type
Main-track collisions and derailments have potentially the highest severity of all rail accident types. They can result in substantial damage to property and the environment, and can cause injury or fatality. The risks increase significantly when passenger trains are involved or dangerous goods are released from trains that derail in populated areas.
There were 3 main-track collisions (Table 1 and Figure 6) in 2021, down from the 2020 total of 7 and down from the 10-year average of 5. No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from main-track collisions in 2021. There was no release of dangerous goods as a result of main-track collisions.
A total of 76 main-track derailments (Table 4) were reported in 2021, an increase from the 2020 total of 70, but 8% below the 10-year average of 83 (Figure 6). Thirty-two percent of the 76 main-track derailments occurred in British Columbia, 22% occurred in Alberta, and 17% occurred in Ontario.
The number of main-track derailments per million main-track (i.e., non-yard) train miles (Table 4) increased to 1.03 in 2021 from 0.93 the previous year but below the 10-year average of 1.04.
Figure 6. Data table
Year | Main-track collisions | Main-track derailments |
---|---|---|
2011 | 3 | 110 |
2012 | 6 | 67 |
2013 | 4 | 84 |
2014 | 9 | 100 |
2015 | 4 | 75 |
2016 | 5 | 58 |
2017 | 3 | 81 |
2018 | 5 | 87 |
2019 | 4 | 93 |
2020 | 7 | 70 |
2021 | 3 | 76 |
No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from main-track derailments in 2021 (Table 2). Sixteen main-track derailments involved dangerous goods, up from the 2020 total of 7 and above the 10-year average of 14. Two of these derailments resulted in release of products (one elevated temperature liquid, N.O.S; one gasoline).
In 2021, 23% of assigned factorsFootnote 9 for main-track derailments (Table 5) were equipment-related, down from the 10-year average of 31%. Actions-related factorsFootnote 10 accounted for 18% of assigned factors in 2021, down from the 10-year average of 22%. Track-related factors were reported in 42% of main-track derailments in 2021, above the 10-year average of 36%.
Non-main-track collisions (Table 6 and Figure 7) totalled 61 in 2021, down from the 2020 total of 67, and below the 10-year average of 93. Derailments occurred in 27 non-main-track collisions (44%), and 11 of those derailments involved the derailment of only one car.
No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from non-main-track collisions in 2021 (Table 2). Dangerous goods were involved in 31% of non-main-track collisions, none of which resulted in a release of product.
Factors assigned to non-main-track collisions were mostly actions-related (79%), down from the 10-year average of 87% (Table 7). Failure to protect, such as improper positioning of movements and handling of switches, was assigned most often (46%) as a factor.
Figure 7. Data table
Year | Non-main-track collisions | Non-main-track derailments |
---|---|---|
2011 | 89 | 522 |
2012 | 101 | 530 |
2013 | 93 | 549 |
2014 | 106 | 481 |
2015 | 92 | 523 |
2016 | 69 | 435 |
2017 | 103 | 541 |
2018 | 101 | 599 |
2019 | 112 | 606 |
2020 | 67 | 492 |
2021 | 61 | 400 |
There were 400 non-main-track derailmentsFootnote 11 in 2021 (Table 8 and Figure 7), down from 492 last year and 24% below the 10-year average of 528. In 82% of 2021 accidents, 1 or 2 cars derailed. No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from non-main-track derailments in 2021 (Table 2).
Dangerous goods cars were involved in 11% of non-main-track derailment accidents, none of which resulted in a release of product.
In 2021, actions-related factors represented 51% of all assigned factors for non-main-track derailment accidents, above the 10-year average of 47% (Table 9). Track-related factors represented 27% of all assigned factors, below the 10-year average of 32%. Environmental-related factors represented 14% of all assigned factors in 2021, above the 10-year average of 11%.
Crossing accidents (tables 10 and 11) represented one of the more serious types of rail accidents in 2021, with 23% of these resulting in serious or fatal injuries.
There were 135 crossing accidents in 2021, a 4% increase from the 2020 total of 130 but 18% below the 10-year average of 165. The number of accidents at public automated crossings (57) was up from the 2020 total of 54, but below the 10-year average of 82. The number of accidents at public passive crossings (56) was the same as the 2020 total and the 10-year average. Accidents at private and farm crossings (22) increased from the 2020 total of 20 but were 19% below the 10-year average of 27.
In 2021, 42% of crossing accidents occurred at public automated crossings, and 41% at public passive crossings (Figure 8). Although there are nearly twice as many public passive crossings than public automated crossings, the comparable number of accidents occurring at automated crossings is due, in part, to higher vehicle and train traffic volumes at the automated crossings. The TSB is conducting ongoing research to better understand the causes of crossing accidents during the winter (see for example, Rail Transportation Safety Issue Investigation R20H0082 - Transportation Safety Board (tsb.gc.ca)).
Figure 8. Data table
Type of crossing | Accidents |
---|---|
Public passive | 56 |
Public automated | 57 |
Private | 22 |
Farm | 0 |
There were 15 fatal crossing accidents in 2021, down from 16 reported in 2020 and below the 10-year average of 20. Crossing-related fatalities totalled 16 in 2021, down from 18 reported in 2020 and below the 10-year average of 23.
Although crossing accidents involving pedestrians accounted for 10% (13) of all crossing accidents in 2021, they accounted for 40% (6) of fatal crossing accidents and 38% of crossing-related fatalities.
Crossing-related serious injuries totalled 24 in 2021, up from the 2020 total of 12 but below the 10-year average of 26.
In 2021, 2 crossing accidents resulted in a train derailment, down from 3 in 2020 and below the 10-year average (5).
No crossing accidents resulted in the release of dangerous goods in 2021.
Alberta had the highest proportion (23%) of all crossing accidents in 2021. Ontario had the second highest total with 20% of crossing accidents, followed by Saskatchewan with 18%, and British Columbia with 16% (Figure 9).
Figure 9. Data table
Province or territory | 2011 to 2020 average | 2021 |
---|---|---|
BC | 19.9 | 21 |
AB | 37.4 | 31 |
SK | 25.3 | 24 |
MB | 17.4 | 16 |
ON | 35.8 | 27 |
QC | 23.6 | 13 |
NB | 3.5 | 2 |
NS | 1.6 | 0 |
NL | 0.2 | 0 |
NT, YT | 0.1 | 1 |
Trespasser accidents (Table 12 and Figure 10) totalled 64 in 2021, up from 60 in 2020 and above the 10-year average of 63. Ontario accounted for 55% of trespasser accidents, followed by British Columbia with 17%, Quebec with 11%, and Alberta with 9%.
Figure 10. Data table
Province or territory | 2011 to 2020 average | 2021 |
---|---|---|
BC | 19.9 | 21 |
AB | 37.4 | 31 |
SK | 25.3 | 24 |
MB | 17.4 | 16 |
ON | 35.8 | 27 |
QC | 23.6 | 13 |
NB | 3.5 | 2 |
NS | 1.6 | 0 |
NL | 0.2 | 0 |
NT, YT | 0.1 | 1 |
In 2021, the proportion of trespasser accidents that were fatal (66%) was above the 10-year average of 64%. The proportion of trespasser accidents resulting in serious injuries (25%) was below the 10-year average of 32%.
Incidents Footnote 12
Overview of incidents
In 2021, there were 194 reported rail incidents (Figure 11 and Table 1), down from 229 in 2020.
Figure 11. Data table
Year | Incidents |
---|---|
2011 | 233 |
2012 | 238 |
2013 | 224 |
2014 | 407 |
2015 | 372 |
2016 | 301 |
2017 | 235 |
2018 | 286 |
2019 | 243 |
2020 | 229 |
2021 | 194 |
* New TSB Regulations came into effect on 1 July 2014.
“Movement exceeds the limit of authority”Footnote 13 incident type accounted for 56% of reportable incidents in 2021 (Table 13), followed by “non-main-track train derailments – no damage” (20%), “uncontrolled movement of rolling stock” (7%), and “main-track switch in abnormal position” (7%).
In 2021 there were 13 “uncontrolled movement of rolling stock” incidents, as well as 3 derailment incidents and 1 collision incident that involved an uncontrolled movement of rolling stock. In addition, 33 accidents involved an uncontrolled movement of rolling stock (Table 1), for a total of 50 occurrences. This is similar to the total of these occurrences in 2020 (51), but an 18% decrease from the 10-year average of 61.
There were 109 incidents in 2021 where the movement exceeded the limit of authority, a decrease from 149 reported in 2020 and 15% below the 10-year average of 129 (Table 1).
Data tables
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accidents |
1071 |
1049 |
1095 |
1048 |
1045 |
897 |
1088 |
1168 |
1256 |
988 |
1038 |
Main-track collisions | 3 |
6 |
4 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
Main-track derailments, 1 or 2 cars2 | 49 |
35 |
52 |
44 |
40 |
33 |
48 |
39 |
54 |
40 |
39 |
Main-track train derailments, 3 to 5 cars | 17 |
9 |
13 |
15 |
8 |
7 |
5 |
10 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
Main-track train derailments, 6 or more cars | 44 |
23 |
19 |
41 |
27 |
18 |
28 |
38 |
33 |
27 |
34 |
Crossing accidents | 171 |
192 |
184 |
185 |
165 |
133 |
143 |
167 |
178 |
130 |
135 |
Non-main-track collisions | 89 |
101 |
93 |
106 |
92 |
69 |
103 |
101 |
112 |
67 |
61 |
Non-main-track derailments, 1 or 2 cars2 | 404 |
424 |
436 |
357 |
410 |
346 |
424 |
476 |
492 |
406 |
327 |
Non-main-track derailments, 3 to 5 cars | 91 |
77 |
88 |
90 |
87 |
62 |
82 |
100 |
87 |
65 |
58 |
Non-main-track derailments, 6 or more cars | 27 |
29 |
25 |
34 |
26 |
27 |
35 |
23 |
27 |
21 |
15 |
Collisions/derailments involving track units | 34 |
25 |
41 |
27 |
43 |
23 |
45 |
48 |
50 |
39 |
50 |
Employee/passenger accidents | 11 |
7 |
8 |
13 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
13 |
15 |
9 |
10 |
Trespasser accidents | 65 |
71 |
56 |
54 |
50 |
68 |
77 |
68 |
56 |
60 |
64 |
Fires/Explosions | 23 |
17 |
11 |
36 |
32 |
35 |
33 |
34 |
100 |
79 |
189 |
Other accident types | 43 |
33 |
65 |
37 |
46 |
55 |
45 |
46 |
42 |
35 |
50 |
Reportable incidents |
233 |
238 |
224 |
407 |
372 |
301 |
235 |
286 |
243 |
229 |
194 |
Main-track derailments, 1 or 2 cars2 (no damage) | n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
2 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
Non-main-track train collisions (no derailment, no damage) | n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
8 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Non-main-track train derailments, 1 or 2 cars2 (no damage) | n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
166 |
125 |
97 |
67 |
96 |
58 |
32 |
39 |
Dangerous goods leaker3 | 79 |
93 |
94 |
63 |
33 |
7 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Main-track switch in abnormal position | 10 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
12 |
7 |
12 |
7 |
15 |
3 |
13 |
Movement exceeds limits of authority | 118 |
120 |
98 |
129 |
142 |
133 |
122 |
138 |
136 |
149 |
109 |
Uncontrolled movement of rolling stock | 16 |
13 |
14 |
11 |
14 |
10 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
19 |
13 |
Other reportable incidents | 10 |
7 |
11 |
22 |
39 |
38 |
15 |
24 |
15 |
24 |
16 |
Main-track accidents4 |
201 |
135 |
184 |
198 |
199 |
173 |
195 |
212 |
277 |
208 |
353 |
Million main-track train miles5 |
78.4 |
80.1 |
78.5 |
81.6 |
79.6 |
74.7 |
78.0 |
82.6 |
83.3 |
74.9 |
74.1 |
Main-track accidents per million main-track train miles |
2.6 |
1.7 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.3 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
3.3 |
2.8 |
4.8 |
Accidents involving dangerous goods |
121 |
120 |
143 |
143 |
127 |
101 |
115 |
125 |
171 |
82 |
86 |
Main-track derailments | 20 |
6 |
11 |
25 |
12 |
10 |
10 |
17 |
19 |
7 |
16 |
Crossing accidents | 1 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
Non-main-track collisions | 21 |
21 |
26 |
36 |
32 |
19 |
39 |
33 |
44 |
13 |
19 |
Non-main-track derailments | 73 |
88 |
96 |
68 |
75 |
60 |
54 |
62 |
95 |
56 |
45 |
Other accident types | 6 |
1 |
5 |
9 |
4 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
Accidents with a dangerous goods release |
3 |
2 |
7 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
Accidents involving an uncontrolled movement of rolling stock |
35 |
43 |
57 |
43 |
41 |
33 |
48 |
47 |
62 |
30 |
33 |
Persons fatally injured in reportable occurrences |
71 |
81 |
124 |
56 |
46 |
66 |
76 |
57 |
72 |
60 |
60 |
Crossing accidents | 25 |
33 |
30 |
21 |
15 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
28 |
18 |
16 |
Trespasser accidents | 43 |
44 |
42 |
32 |
30 |
47 |
53 |
34 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
Other occurrence types6 | 3 |
4 |
52 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
Persons seriously injured in reportable occurrences |
52 |
73 |
39 |
53 |
50 |
56 |
65 |
91 |
65 |
40 |
51 |
Crossing accidents | 22 |
32 |
27 |
29 |
18 |
24 |
22 |
42 |
31 |
12 |
24 |
Trespasser accidents | 21 |
22 |
10 |
21 |
17 |
20 |
22 |
30 |
17 |
20 |
17 |
Other occurrence types6 | 9 |
19 |
2 |
3 |
15 |
12 |
21 |
19 |
17 |
8 |
10 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. 2Under the TSB Regulations that came into effect in 2014, all derailments are reportable. Derailments and collisions with minimal consequences are reportable incidents; these include derailments involving 1 to 2 cars with no equipment or track damage, no injuries, no fires, and no release of dangerous goods; it also includes non-main-track collisions with no equipment or track damage, no injuries, no fires, no release of dangerous goods, and that did not foul the main track. 3TSB Regulations have been harmonized with Section 8.4 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, under which an accidental release of a dangerous good is only reportable (as an accident) if it results in death or serious injury, evacuation, or the closure of a dangerous goods loading facility, a road, a main railway line, or a main waterway. 4Accidents that occurred on main track or spurs, excluding crossing and trespasser accidents, and excluding non-main-track collisions and derailments. 5Main-track (i.e., non-yard) train miles are estimated (Source: Transport Canada email communication 14 March 2022). 6See Table 2 for details on occurrences by type. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Persons fatally injured in reportable occurrences |
71 |
81 |
124 |
56 |
46 |
66 |
76 |
57 |
72 |
60 |
60 |
Main-track collisions | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Main-track derailments | 0 |
3 |
47 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Crossing accidents | 25 |
33 |
30 |
21 |
15 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
28 |
18 |
16 |
Non-main-track collisions | 0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Non-main-track derailments | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Collisions/derailments involving track units | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Employee/passenger accidents | 1 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Trespasser accidents | 43 |
44 |
42 |
32 |
30 |
47 |
53 |
34 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
Other accident types | 2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Reportable incidents | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Persons seriously injured in reportable occurrences |
52 |
73 |
39 |
53 |
50 |
56 |
65 |
91 |
65 |
40 |
51 |
Main-track collisions | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Main-track derailments | 0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Crossing accidents | 22 |
32 |
27 |
29 |
18 |
24 |
22 |
42 |
31 |
12 |
24 |
Non-main-track collisions | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Non-main-track derailments | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Collisions/derailments involving track units | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
Employee/passenger accidents | 7 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
11 |
8 |
16 |
12 |
11 |
6 |
7 |
Trespasser accidents | 21 |
22 |
10 |
21 |
17 |
20 |
22 |
30 |
17 |
20 |
17 |
Other accident types | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Reportable incidents | 0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Persons fatally injured |
71 |
81 |
124 |
56 |
46 |
66 |
76 |
57 |
72 |
60 |
60 |
Employees | 1 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
Passengers | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Pedestrians | 6 |
17 |
13 |
8 |
3 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
13 |
7 |
5 |
Vehicle occupants | 22 |
16 |
17 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
9 |
16 |
14 |
10 |
Trespassers | 42 |
44 |
42 |
32 |
31 |
47 |
53 |
34 |
38 |
36 |
43 |
Other categories of persons | 0 |
0 |
47 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Persons seriously injured |
52 |
73 |
39 |
53 |
50 |
56 |
65 |
91 |
65 |
40 |
51 |
Employees | 8 |
9 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
15 |
19 |
17 |
16 |
8 |
6 |
Passengers | 0 |
14 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Pedestrians | 5 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
Vehicle occupants | 18 |
23 |
23 |
21 |
16 |
18 |
18 |
33 |
25 |
9 |
20 |
Trespassers | 21 |
22 |
10 |
23 |
16 |
21 |
23 |
30 |
17 |
20 |
15 |
Other categories of persons | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Freight trains |
822 |
800 |
834 |
545 |
413 |
338 |
402 |
389 |
448 |
362 |
422 |
Main-track collisions | 4 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
6 |
Main-track derailments | 102 |
62 |
79 |
90 |
66 |
48 |
75 |
75 |
78 |
64 |
66 |
Non-main-track collisions | 95 |
94 |
85 |
42 |
27 |
11 |
28 |
20 |
26 |
15 |
12 |
Non-main-track derailments | 401 |
382 |
423 |
187 |
108 |
88 |
95 |
96 |
78 |
56 |
36 |
Crossing accidents | 132 |
160 |
144 |
139 |
117 |
86 |
94 |
106 |
117 |
94 |
90 |
Trespasser accidents | 42 |
51 |
38 |
39 |
36 |
48 |
51 |
40 |
42 |
49 |
51 |
Other accident types | 46 |
43 |
58 |
40 |
53 |
51 |
53 |
47 |
103 |
76 |
161 |
Passenger trains |
72 |
47 |
46 |
50 |
46 |
57 |
55 |
68 |
47 |
42 |
42 |
Main-track collisions | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Main-track derailments | 2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
Non-main-track collisions | 5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
Non-main-track derailments | 5 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
13 |
3 |
Crossing accidents | 20 |
15 |
17 |
18 |
16 |
11 |
13 |
19 |
15 |
7 |
11 |
Trespasser accidents | 23 |
17 |
16 |
12 |
10 |
13 |
23 |
24 |
12 |
4 |
11 |
Other accident types | 17 |
8 |
6 |
14 |
16 |
28 |
13 |
16 |
14 |
11 |
14 |
Track units |
61 |
41 |
76 |
50 |
78 |
41 |
71 |
81 |
85 |
63 |
91 |
Main-track collisions | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Main-track derailments | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Non-main-track collisions | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Non-main-track derailments | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Crossing accidents | 7 |
2 |
7 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
Trespasser accidents | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other accident types | 54 |
39 |
69 |
48 |
73 |
37 |
66 |
75 |
81 |
60 |
84 |
Single car/cut of cars |
121 |
131 |
126 |
378 |
476 |
416 |
527 |
595 |
620 |
469 |
413 |
Main-track collisions | 1 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
Main-track derailments | 5 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
Non-main-track collisions | 53 |
70 |
59 |
114 |
103 |
93 |
119 |
133 |
141 |
82 |
81 |
Non-main-track derailments | 51 |
49 |
51 |
222 |
333 |
278 |
362 |
402 |
415 |
339 |
294 |
Crossing accidents | 0 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
17 |
17 |
21 |
26 |
25 |
13 |
15 |
Trespasser accidents | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Other accident types | 11 |
8 |
13 |
18 |
17 |
17 |
22 |
22 |
30 |
26 |
18 |
Other types of train/rolling stock |
107 |
150 |
111 |
138 |
132 |
126 |
117 |
151 |
169 |
133 |
150 |
Main-track collisions | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Main-track derailments | 3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
1 |
4 |
Non-main-track collisions | 15 |
27 |
13 |
26 |
15 |
21 |
14 |
18 |
18 |
9 |
8 |
Non-main-track derailments | 69 |
98 |
73 |
78 |
92 |
72 |
82 |
103 |
113 |
88 |
69 |
Crossing accidents | 12 |
14 |
15 |
17 |
10 |
15 |
10 |
12 |
17 |
13 |
13 |
Trespasser accidents | 0 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
Other accident types | 8 |
4 |
7 |
14 |
10 |
13 |
7 |
14 |
12 |
16 |
55 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. 2As some accidents may involve more than one train or other rolling stock, the number of trains/rolling stock involved may differ from the total number of accidents. 3Under the 2014 TSB Regulations, all derailments are reportable. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Main-track derailments |
110 |
67 |
84 |
100 |
75 |
58 |
81 |
87 |
93 |
70 |
76 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Nova Scotia | 0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
New Brunswick | 0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
Quebec | 10 |
8 |
8 |
11 |
9 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
3 |
Ontario | 24 |
7 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
15 |
11 |
14 |
17 |
14 |
13 |
Manitoba | 19 |
9 |
3 |
10 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
14 |
8 |
5 |
Saskatchewan | 11 |
4 |
13 |
10 |
8 |
6 |
14 |
18 |
12 |
6 |
9 |
Alberta | 21 |
17 |
19 |
30 |
17 |
13 |
21 |
20 |
17 |
11 |
17 |
British Columbia | 24 |
21 |
19 |
16 |
14 |
12 |
21 |
18 |
22 |
21 |
24 |
Northwest Territories and Yukon | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Main-track derailments per million main-track train miles3 |
1.40 |
0.84 |
1.07 |
1.23 |
0.94 |
0.78 |
1.04 |
1.05 |
1.12 |
0.93 |
1.03 |
Main-track derailments per billion gross ton miles4 |
0.24 |
0.14 |
0.17 |
0.18 |
0.14 |
0.11 |
0.14 |
0.15 |
0.16 |
0.12 |
n/a |
Main-track derailments by number of derailed cars |
110 |
67 |
84 |
100 |
75 |
58 |
81 |
87 |
93 |
70 |
76 |
1 car | 39 |
29 |
47 |
29 |
30 |
26 |
39 |
29 |
43 |
32 |
33 |
2 cars | 10 |
6 |
5 |
15 |
10 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
8 |
6 |
3 cars | 6 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 cars | 6 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
5 to 10 cars | 29 |
16 |
7 |
22 |
16 |
10 |
13 |
21 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
11 cars or more | 20 |
11 |
14 |
24 |
13 |
11 |
16 |
19 |
23 |
17 |
25 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. 2Under the 2014 TSB Regulations, all derailments are reportable. 3Source of estimated million main-track train miles: Transport Canada email communication 14 March 2022. 4Source of billion gross ton miles: Rail Trends 2021, Railway Association of Canada. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assigned factors3,4 |
126 |
68 |
96 |
109 |
80 |
63 |
84 |
89 |
89 |
68 |
65 |
Environmental | 6 |
4 |
5 |
10 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
9 |
Equipment | 48 |
19 |
33 |
27 |
23 |
20 |
30 |
24 |
25 |
18 |
15 |
Axle | 11 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
Brakes | 7 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
1 |
Draft system | 4 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
Superstrucure | 3 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
Truck | 7 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
Wheel | 16 |
2 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
Track | 45 |
28 |
30 |
49 |
33 |
18 |
32 |
24 |
37 |
21 |
27 |
Geometry | 18 |
14 |
10 |
11 |
8 |
8 |
14 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
Object on track | 2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Other track material | 4 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
Rail | 12 |
8 |
12 |
17 |
12 |
4 |
9 |
4 |
13 |
4 |
10 |
Roadbed | 6 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
Switch | 1 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Turnouts | 1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Actions | 19 |
15 |
26 |
18 |
14 |
18 |
17 |
27 |
17 |
17 |
12 |
Failure to protect | 5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
10 |
9 |
6 |
4 |
Failure to secure | 0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Failure to use equipment properly | 7 |
2 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
9 |
8 |
13 |
6 |
8 |
5 |
Improper loading/lifting | 0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Improper placement/position for task | 2 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
Inadequate/inappropriate maintenance of equipment | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Operating at improper speed | 3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Vandalism | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other actions | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Other assigned factors | 8 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Main-track derailments |
110 |
67 |
84 |
100 |
75 |
58 |
81 |
87 |
93 |
70 |
76 |
One factor assigned | 98 |
66 |
74 |
94 |
70 |
53 |
76 |
81 |
85 |
66 |
63 |
More than one factor assigned | 12 |
1 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
No factors assigned | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
12 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. 2Under the 2014 TSB Regulations, all derailments are reportable. 3Since the TSB does not investigate all occurrences, assigned factors may not be TSB findings. Occurrences are normally reported to the TSB with one assigned factor. The TSB may assign additional factors. 4Some factors are assigned by parent category (e.g., Equipment is the parent of Axle), therefore the breakdowns may not sum to the category total. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-main-track collisions |
89 |
101 |
93 |
106 |
92 |
69 |
103 |
101 |
112 |
67 |
61 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Nova Scotia | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
New Brunswick | 1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
Quebec | 12 |
8 |
10 |
4 |
10 |
7 |
9 |
5 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
Ontario | 17 |
10 |
16 |
23 |
20 |
19 |
25 |
19 |
26 |
15 |
9 |
Manitoba | 15 |
21 |
14 |
18 |
15 |
10 |
14 |
8 |
15 |
11 |
7 |
Saskatchewan | 8 |
12 |
11 |
21 |
8 |
5 |
7 |
13 |
11 |
5 |
4 |
Alberta | 16 |
34 |
28 |
19 |
17 |
19 |
23 |
26 |
29 |
13 |
16 |
British Columbia | 20 |
15 |
13 |
17 |
21 |
8 |
23 |
27 |
22 |
16 |
21 |
Northwest Territories and Yukon | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Non-main-track collisions |
89 |
101 |
93 |
106 |
92 |
69 |
103 |
101 |
112 |
67 |
61 |
No cars derailed | 50 |
63 |
63 |
63 |
63 |
38 |
64 |
54 |
63 |
34 |
34 |
1 car | 21 |
14 |
18 |
19 |
21 |
14 |
16 |
27 |
27 |
16 |
11 |
2 cars | 8 |
10 |
7 |
13 |
1 |
7 |
11 |
6 |
11 |
4 |
6 |
3 cars | 3 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
4 cars | 5 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
5 to 10 cars | 2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
11 cars or more | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assigned factors2,3 |
105 |
114 |
113 |
118 |
103 |
81 |
113 |
106 |
115 |
68 |
56 |
Environmental | 2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
Equipment | 3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
Track | 1 |
3 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Actions | 92 |
100 |
95 |
102 |
88 |
70 |
102 |
94 |
102 |
58 |
44 |
Failure to protect | 64 |
63 |
54 |
61 |
59 |
43 |
66 |
59 |
66 |
39 |
26 |
Failure to secure | 10 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
Failure to use equipment properly | 9 |
10 |
14 |
16 |
14 |
11 |
19 |
18 |
21 |
7 |
7 |
Improper placement/position for task | 0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Inadequate/Inappropriate communications | 4 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
Inadequate/Inappropriate maintenance of equipment | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Operating at improper speed | 5 |
8 |
8 |
12 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
Vandalism | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other actions | 0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Other assigned factors | 7 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
Non-main-track collisions |
89 |
101 |
93 |
106 |
92 |
69 |
103 |
101 |
112 |
67 |
61 |
One assigned factor | 73 |
88 |
73 |
97 |
83 |
60 |
96 |
97 |
109 |
66 |
52 |
More than one assigned factor | 16 |
13 |
20 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
No assigned factor | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. 2Since the TSB does not investigate all occurrences, assigned factors may not be TSB findings. Occurrences are normally reported to the TSB with one assigned factor. The TSB may assign additional factors. 3Some factors are assigned by parent category (e.g., Equipment is the parent of Axle), therefore the breakdowns may not sum to the category total. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-main-track derailment accidents |
522 |
530 |
549 |
481 |
523 |
435 |
541 |
599 |
606 |
492 |
400 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
12 |
11 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
Nova Scotia | 3 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
6 |
New Brunswick | 14 |
8 |
4 |
12 |
13 |
9 |
9 |
5 |
12 |
7 |
6 |
Quebec | 64 |
75 |
55 |
48 |
81 |
67 |
85 |
60 |
111 |
70 |
60 |
Ontario | 108 |
95 |
93 |
93 |
109 |
85 |
115 |
119 |
136 |
93 |
89 |
Manitoba | 75 |
68 |
70 |
68 |
71 |
58 |
70 |
65 |
68 |
59 |
44 |
Saskatchewan | 79 |
68 |
87 |
50 |
49 |
55 |
49 |
83 |
55 |
47 |
42 |
Alberta | 103 |
144 |
145 |
125 |
91 |
68 |
93 |
131 |
115 |
101 |
71 |
British Columbia | 74 |
67 |
91 |
80 |
100 |
79 |
103 |
121 |
99 |
100 |
72 |
Northwest Territories and Yukon | 2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Non-main-track derailment accidents |
522 |
530 |
549 |
481 |
523 |
435 |
541 |
599 |
606 |
492 |
400 |
1 car | 291 |
301 |
334 |
260 |
319 |
265 |
333 |
383 |
403 |
323 |
250 |
2 cars | 113 |
123 |
102 |
97 |
91 |
81 |
91 |
93 |
89 |
83 |
77 |
3 cars | 47 |
39 |
48 |
49 |
53 |
31 |
46 |
54 |
39 |
36 |
30 |
4 cars | 29 |
22 |
25 |
23 |
26 |
22 |
25 |
28 |
32 |
19 |
18 |
5 to 10 cars | 37 |
40 |
37 |
46 |
29 |
31 |
43 |
35 |
32 |
29 |
24 |
11 cars or more | 5 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
11 |
2 |
1 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. 2Under the 2014 TSB Regulations, all derailments are reportable. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assigned factors3,4 |
578 |
563 |
622 |
517 |
560 |
465 |
572 |
610 |
610 |
495 |
374 |
Environmental | 58 |
29 |
82 |
30 |
36 |
40 |
59 |
77 |
131 |
63 |
52 |
Equipment | 57 |
51 |
39 |
41 |
31 |
31 |
34 |
31 |
23 |
28 |
24 |
Axle | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Brakes | 14 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
4 |
6 |
11 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
Draft system | 11 |
10 |
5 |
8 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
Superstrucure | 11 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
Truck | 7 |
17 |
14 |
11 |
8 |
11 |
12 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
Wheel | 13 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
Track | 175 |
207 |
205 |
202 |
194 |
164 |
162 |
190 |
165 |
143 |
101 |
Appurtenances | 0 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Geometry | 71 |
80 |
73 |
77 |
61 |
72 |
67 |
78 |
76 |
63 |
44 |
Object on track | 2 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Other track material | 7 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
Rail | 19 |
30 |
38 |
30 |
30 |
19 |
38 |
24 |
24 |
18 |
14 |
Roadbed | 25 |
13 |
10 |
8 |
9 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
Signals | 0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Switch | 35 |
54 |
58 |
59 |
64 |
50 |
30 |
52 |
40 |
41 |
29 |
Turnouts | 13 |
12 |
12 |
19 |
16 |
4 |
8 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
3 |
Actions | 255 |
255 |
269 |
226 |
276 |
216 |
301 |
307 |
280 |
255 |
189 |
Failure to protect | 147 |
140 |
140 |
130 |
158 |
109 |
163 |
209 |
176 |
148 |
106 |
Failure to secure | 3 |
11 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
10 |
14 |
5 |
7 |
Failure to use equipment properly | 76 |
77 |
84 |
67 |
72 |
81 |
98 |
66 |
72 |
68 |
59 |
Improper loading/lifting | 8 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
8 |
1 |
7 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
Improper placement/position for task | 8 |
11 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
11 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
5 |
Inadequate/inappropriate communications | 2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
Inadequate/inappropriate maintenance of equipment | 0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Operating at improper speed | 4 |
3 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
8 |
8 |
6 |
3 |
9 |
7 |
Vandalism | 6 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
Other actions | 1 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
Other assigned factors | 33 |
21 |
27 |
18 |
23 |
14 |
16 |
5 |
11 |
6 |
8 |
Non-main-track derailment accidents |
522 |
530 |
549 |
481 |
523 |
435 |
541 |
599 |
606 |
492 |
400 |
One assigned factor | 458 |
497 |
479 |
450 |
498 |
414 |
517 |
584 |
602 |
485 |
368 |
More than one assigned factor | 60 |
33 |
70 |
31 |
25 |
21 |
24 |
12 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
No assigned factor | 4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
29 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. 2Under the 2014 TSB Regulations, all derailments are reportable. 3Since the TSB does not investigate all occurrences, assigned factors may not be TSB findings. Occurrences are normally reported to the TSB with one assigned factor. The TSB may assign additional factors. 4Some factors are assigned by parent category (e.g., Equipment is the parent of Axle), therefore the breakdowns may not sum to the category total. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crossing accidents |
171 |
192 |
184 |
185 |
165 |
133 |
143 |
167 |
178 |
130 |
135 |
Public crossings | 148 |
170 |
172 |
154 |
131 |
105 |
117 |
136 |
135 |
110 |
113 |
Passive warnings | 59 |
73 |
65 |
68 |
52 |
36 |
47 |
50 |
49 |
56 |
56 |
Automated warnings | 89 |
97 |
107 |
86 |
79 |
69 |
70 |
86 |
86 |
54 |
57 |
Flashing lights and bells | 52 |
48 |
56 |
47 |
37 |
39 |
30 |
44 |
43 |
17 |
24 |
Gates | 36 |
49 |
44 |
38 |
42 |
29 |
38 |
41 |
42 |
36 |
33 |
Other automated warnings | 1 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Private crossings | 15 |
18 |
10 |
27 |
28 |
24 |
21 |
30 |
40 |
18 |
22 |
Farm crossings | 8 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
Fatal accidents |
24 |
28 |
22 |
20 |
15 |
16 |
19 |
18 |
26 |
16 |
15 |
Persons fatally injured |
25 |
33 |
30 |
21 |
15 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
28 |
18 |
16 |
Public crossings | 21 |
32 |
30 |
20 |
13 |
19 |
19 |
18 |
25 |
18 |
16 |
Passive warnings | 5 |
14 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
12 |
5 |
Automated warnings | 16 |
18 |
27 |
18 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
16 |
19 |
6 |
11 |
Flashing lights and bells | 9 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
Gates | 7 |
11 |
20 |
15 |
9 |
7 |
12 |
12 |
14 |
5 |
6 |
Other automated warnings | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Private crossings | 1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Farm crossings | 3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Persons seriously injured |
22 |
32 |
27 |
29 |
18 |
24 |
22 |
42 |
31 |
12 |
24 |
Public crossings | 20 |
29 |
26 |
22 |
18 |
21 |
18 |
37 |
25 |
11 |
23 |
Passive warnings | 3 |
15 |
7 |
11 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
17 |
6 |
3 |
11 |
Automated warnings | 17 |
14 |
19 |
11 |
14 |
16 |
9 |
20 |
19 |
8 |
12 |
Flashing lights and bells | 9 |
6 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
6 |
9 |
2 |
6 |
Gates | 8 |
8 |
13 |
5 |
10 |
8 |
6 |
14 |
10 |
6 |
6 |
Other automated warnings | 0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Private crossings | 1 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
Farm crossings | 1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Number of public crossings2 |
16413 |
16229 |
16113 |
15950 |
15724 |
15656 |
16524 |
16447 |
16497 |
16366 |
15434 |
Passive warnings | 10826 |
10628 |
10548 |
10397 |
10173 |
10109 |
10833 |
10671 |
10608 |
10506 |
9561 |
Automated warnings | 5587 |
5601 |
5565 |
5553 |
5551 |
5547 |
5691 |
5776 |
5889 |
5860 |
5873 |
Flashing lights and bells | 3308 |
3288 |
3235 |
3189 |
3156 |
3118 |
3268 |
3267 |
3277 |
3208 |
3163 |
Gates | 2220 |
2254 |
2275 |
2317 |
2351 |
2386 |
2399 |
2484 |
2585 |
2627 |
2685 |
Other automated warnings | 59 |
59 |
55 |
47 |
44 |
43 |
24 |
25 |
27 |
25 |
25 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. 2Source: Transport Canada IRIS database. The data for 2021 are from 14 March 2022. Figures for previous years are snapshots provided historically by Transport Canada. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crossing accidents |
171 |
192 |
184 |
185 |
165 |
133 |
143 |
167 |
178 |
130 |
|
Newfoundland and Labrador | 2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nova Scotia | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
|
New Brunswick | 6 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Quebec | 27 |
18 |
16 |
23 |
28 |
29 |
26 |
24 |
25 |
20 |
|
Ontario | 39 |
41 |
40 |
44 |
29 |
26 |
26 |
43 |
50 |
20 |
|
Manitoba | 7 |
26 |
19 |
17 |
19 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
20 |
22 |
|
Saskatchewan | 23 |
32 |
37 |
34 |
23 |
19 |
26 |
22 |
24 |
13 |
|
Alberta | 47 |
49 |
50 |
40 |
38 |
21 |
28 |
35 |
35 |
31 |
|
British Columbia | 20 |
22 |
19 |
21 |
19 |
19 |
18 |
22 |
20 |
19 |
|
Northwest Territories and Yukon | 0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Crossing accidents on main track2 |
167 |
182 |
171 |
173 |
159 |
122 |
136 |
156 |
166 |
124 |
|
Crossing accidents per million main-track train miles3 |
2.1 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
1.6 |
1.7 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
1.7 |
|
Crossing accidents with derailment |
4 |
3 |
6 |
9 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
|
Persons fatally injured |
25 |
33 |
30 |
21 |
15 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
28 |
18 |
|
Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nova Scotia | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
New Brunswick | 2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Quebec | 4 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
Ontario | 9 |
12 |
13 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
7 |
7 |
11 |
2 |
|
Manitoba | 2 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
|
Saskatchewan | 1 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
|
Alberta | 5 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
British Columbia | 2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
|
Northwest Territories and Yukon | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Persons seriously injured |
22 |
32 |
27 |
29 |
18 |
24 |
22 |
42 |
31 |
12 |
|
Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nova Scotia | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
New Brunswick | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Quebec | 4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
3 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
|
Ontario | 7 |
8 |
15 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
7 |
1 |
|
Manitoba | 1 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
0 |
2 |
|
Saskatchewan | 2 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
7 |
1 |
|
Alberta | 4 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
9 |
3 |
|
British Columbia | 4 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
|
Northwest Territories and Yukon | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Number of public crossings4 |
16413 |
16229 |
16113 |
15950 |
15724 |
15656 |
16524 |
16447 |
16497 |
16366 |
|
Newfoundland and Labrador | 5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Nova Scotia | 180 |
180 |
182 |
182 |
182 |
182 |
181 |
181 |
183 |
168 |
|
New Brunswick | 340 |
340 |
342 |
343 |
344 |
344 |
471 |
472 |
432 |
432 |
|
Quebec | 1966 |
1968 |
1967 |
1921 |
1902 |
1902 |
1694 |
1693 |
1786 |
1788 |
|
Ontario | 3915 |
3884 |
3792 |
3782 |
3743 |
3728 |
4126 |
4131 |
4158 |
4074 |
|
Manitoba | 2002 |
1939 |
1929 |
1914 |
1862 |
1858 |
2046 |
2006 |
1987 |
1983 |
|
Saskatchewan | 3710 |
3656 |
3652 |
3597 |
3509 |
3504 |
3607 |
3573 |
3546 |
3526 |
|
Alberta | 2783 |
2777 |
2767 |
2731 |
2724 |
2707 |
2881 |
2894 |
2883 |
2895 |
|
British Columbia | 1486 |
1454 |
1451 |
1449 |
1432 |
1404 |
1498 |
1476 |
1502 |
1480 |
|
Northwest Territories and Yukon | 26 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
21 |
22 |
16 |
16 |
15 |
15 |
|
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. 2Includes crossing accidents on main track or on spurs. 3Source of estimated million main-track train miles: Transport Canada email communication 14 March 2022. 4Source: Transport Canada IRIS database. The data for 2021 are from 14 March 2022. Figures for previous years are snapshots provided historically by Transport Canada. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trespasser accidents |
65 |
71 |
56 |
54 |
50 |
68 |
77 |
68 |
56 |
60 |
64 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Nova Scotia | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
New Brunswick | 2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Quebec | 8 |
11 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
12 |
12 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
Ontario | 32 |
31 |
30 |
21 |
23 |
25 |
34 |
30 |
21 |
21 |
35 |
Manitoba | 1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
Saskatchewan | 2 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
Alberta | 6 |
9 |
7 |
10 |
4 |
10 |
8 |
10 |
14 |
12 |
6 |
British Columbia | 13 |
11 |
8 |
13 |
12 |
21 |
17 |
12 |
8 |
12 |
11 |
Northwest Territories and Yukon | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Fatal accidents |
43 |
43 |
42 |
31 |
30 |
46 |
52 |
34 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
Persons fatally injured |
43 |
44 |
42 |
32 |
30 |
47 |
53 |
34 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Nova Scotia | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
New Brunswick | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Quebec | 6 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
9 |
7 |
4 |
8 |
5 |
Ontario | 26 |
18 |
26 |
15 |
13 |
19 |
26 |
14 |
16 |
14 |
28 |
Manitoba | 1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
Saskatchewan | 1 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
Alberta | 2 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
9 |
10 |
2 |
British Columbia | 6 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
6 |
15 |
10 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
Northwest Territories and Yukon | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Persons seriously injured |
21 |
22 |
10 |
21 |
17 |
20 |
22 |
30 |
17 |
20 |
17 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Nova Scotia | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
New Brunswick | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Quebec | 2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Ontario | 6 |
13 |
3 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
8 |
13 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
Manitoba | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Saskatchewan | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Alberta | 4 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
British Columbia | 7 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
Northwest Territories and Yukon | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. |
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reportable incidents |
233 |
238 |
224 |
407 |
372 |
301 |
235 |
286 |
243 |
229 |
194 |
Main-track train derailments, 1 or 2 cars2 (no damage) | n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
2 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
Non-main-track train collisions2 (no derailment, no damage) | n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
8 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Non-main-track train derailments, 1 or 2 cars2 (no damage) | n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
166 |
125 |
97 |
67 |
96 |
58 |
32 |
39 |
Dangerous goods leaker3 | 79 |
93 |
94 |
63 |
33 |
7 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Main-track switch in abnormal position | 10 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
12 |
7 |
12 |
7 |
15 |
3 |
13 |
Movement exceeds limits of authority | 118 |
120 |
98 |
129 |
142 |
133 |
122 |
138 |
136 |
149 |
109 |
Uncontrolled movement of rolling stock | 16 |
13 |
14 |
11 |
14 |
10 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
19 |
13 |
Signal less restrictive than required | 3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Unprotected overlap of authorities | 7 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
11 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
Crew member incapacitated | 0 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Derailment involving track unit (no damage) | n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
7 |
10 |
13 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
4 |
Rolling stock collision with abandoned vehicle (no derailment, no damage) | n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
1 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Rolling stock collision with object (no derailment, no damage) | n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
6 |
10 |
14 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
Assigned factors4,5 |
240 |
245 |
229 |
424 |
392 |
324 |
245 |
291 |
248 |
229 |
169 |
Dangerous goods leaker location/component | 78 |
92 |
92 |
61 |
32 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Equipment | 1 |
2 |
4 |
13 |
8 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
9 |
6 |
Individual/Personal | 0 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Track | 5 |
2 |
2 |
25 |
36 |
29 |
7 |
13 |
7 |
13 |
12 |
Actions | 144 |
139 |
116 |
250 |
264 |
241 |
191 |
209 |
185 |
176 |
137 |
Failure to protect | 55 |
38 |
33 |
95 |
94 |
88 |
73 |
90 |
66 |
46 |
54 |
Failure to secure | 11 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
11 |
4 |
9 |
2 |
7 |
8 |
4 |
Failure to use equipment properly | 5 |
1 |
9 |
29 |
25 |
34 |
20 |
20 |
9 |
15 |
11 |
Inadequate/Inappropriate communication | 11 |
14 |
8 |
18 |
13 |
14 |
8 |
14 |
12 |
15 |
4 |
Lap of authority | 59 |
75 |
54 |
83 |
98 |
82 |
74 |
72 |
87 |
88 |
58 |
Vandalism | 2 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Other actions | 1 |
2 |
4 |
15 |
17 |
13 |
6 |
8 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Other assigned factors | 12 |
9 |
11 |
74 |
49 |
35 |
35 |
57 |
49 |
31 |
14 |
Reportable incidents |
233 |
238 |
224 |
407 |
372 |
301 |
235 |
286 |
243 |
229 |
194 |
One factor assigned | 226 |
230 |
220 |
391 |
358 |
279 |
225 |
280 |
238 |
222 |
169 |
More than one factor assigned | 7 |
7 |
4 |
16 |
14 |
21 |
9 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
No factor assigned | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
25 |
Data extracted 15 March 2022 1Data are for federally regulated railways, and include only those occurrences that are reportable under the TSB Regulations. 2Under the TSB Regulations that came into effect in 2014, all derailments are reportable. Derailments and collisions with minimal consequences are reportable incidents; these include derailments involving 1 to 2 cars with no equipment or track damage, no injuries, no fires, and no release of dangerous goods; it also includes non-main-track collisions with no equipment or track damage, no injuries, no fires, no release of dangerous goods, and that did not foul the main track. 3TSB Regulations have been harmonized with Section 8.4 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, under which an accidental release of a dangerous good is only reportable (as an accident) if it results in death or serious injury, evacuation, or the closure of a dangerous goods loading facility, a road, a main railway line, or a main waterway. 4Since the TSB does not investigate all occurrences, assigned factors may not be TSB findings. Occurrences are normally reported to the TSB with one assigned factor. The TSB may assign additional factors. 5Some factors are assigned by parent category (e.g., Equipment is the parent of Axle), therefore the breakdowns may not sum to the category total. |
Definitions
The following definitions are based on the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and the associated regulations, and apply to the rail transportation occurrences reported pursuant to them.
Occurrence
- Any accident or incident associated with the operation of rolling stock on a railway
- Any situation or condition that the Board has reasonable grounds to believe could, if left unattended, induce an accident or incident described below
Reportable accident
- A person is killed or sustains a serious injury as a result of
- getting on or off or being on board the rolling stock, or
- coming into contact with any part of the rolling stock or its contents
- The rolling stock or its contents
- are involved in a collision and/or a derailment resulting in damages to rolling stock and/or track infrastructure,
- sustain damage that affects the safe operation of the rolling stock,
- cause or sustain a fire or explosion, or
- cause damage to the railway that poses a threat to the safe passage of rolling stock or to the safety of any person, property or the environment
- There is an accidental release on board or from rolling stock that results in any of the events listed in subsection 8.4(2) of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations.
Reportable incident
- A risk of collision occurs between rolling stock
- An unprotected main-track switch or subdivision track switch is left in an abnormal position
- A railway signal displays a less restrictive indication than that required for the intended movement of rolling stock
- Rolling stock occupies a main-track or subdivision track, or track work takes place, in contravention of the Rules or any regulations made under the Railway Safety Act
- Rolling stock passes a signal indicating stop in contravention of the Rules or any regulations made under the Railway Safety Act
- There is an unplanned and uncontrolled movement of rolling stock
- A crew member whose duties are directly related to the safe operation of the rolling stock is unable to perform their duties as a result of a physical incapacitation which poses a threat to the safety of persons, property or the environment,
- A derailment or non-main-track collision (involving one to two cars) occurs without damage or injury
Serious injury
- A fracture of any bone, except simple fractures of fingers, toes or the nose
- Lacerations that cause severe hemorrhage or nerve, muscle or tendon damage
- An injury to an internal organ
- Second or third degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5% of the body surface
- A verified exposure to infectious substances or injurious radiation, or
- An injury that is likely to require hospitalization
Dangerous goods involvement
“Dangerous goods” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act. An accident is considered to have dangerous goods involvement if any car in the consist carrying (or having last contained) a dangerous good derails, strikes or is struck by any other rolling stock or object. It does not mean that there was any release of any product. Also included are crossing accidents in which the motor vehicle involved (e.g., tanker truck) is carrying a dangerous good.
Derailment
Any instance where one or more wheels of rolling stock have come off the normal running surface of the rail, including occurrences where there are no injuries and no damage to track or equipment.
Footnotes
Footnote 1See the Definitions section.
Footnote 2“Derailment” means any instance where one or more wheels of rolling stock have come off the normal running surface of the rail.
Footnote 3Other accident types include but are not limited to fires, collisions/derailments involving track units, rolling stock collisions with object, and employee/passenger accidents.
Footnote 4Accidents involving dangerous goods can also include road vehicles carrying dangerous goods.
Footnote 5Trespasser accidents involve persons, primarily pedestrians, who are struck by rolling stock while they are on railway rights-of-way (other than railway crossings) that they are not authorized to occupy resulting in death, serious injury or property damage.
Footnote 6A crossing accident occurs when railway rolling stock is involved in a grade-crossing collision with a motor vehicle or with a pedestrian, resulting in death, serious injury or property damage.
Footnote 7Accidents which occur on main-track or spurs (not including crossing accidents, trespasser accidents, and non-main-track collisions and derailments) are combined in order to match the figures used in the activity data, which is the total of main-track and spur (i.e., non-yard) million train miles.
Footnote 8Transport Canada, Rail Safety Directorate (email dated 14 March 2022).
Footnote 9Occurrences are normally reported to TSB with one assigned factor. Since multiple factors can contribute to an occurrence, the TSB may assign additional factors to an occurrence. Note that when multiple factors are assigned to an accident, they are considered to have acted in combination to contribute to the occurrence.
Footnote 10Actions-related factors include, but are not limited to, departure from prescribed procedures, such as failure to protect or failure to secure.
Return to footnote 10 referrer
Footnote 11New TSB Regulations came into effect on 1 July 2014 requiring that all derailments be reported, including derailments where there were no injuries and no damage to track or equipment.
Return to footnote 11 referrer
Footnote 12See the Definitions section.
Return to footnote 12 referrer
Footnote 13A movement exceeds limits of authority incident occurs when rolling stock occupies a main track or subdivision track, or track work takes place, in contravention of the Rules or any regulations made under the Railway Safety Act.