Statistical Summary: Railway Occurrences in 2017

This document is a summary of selected 2017 railway safety data. It covers federally regulated railways only. Non-federally regulated data reported to the TSB are not included in this report.

The TSB gathers and uses this data during the course of its investigations to analyse safety deficiencies and identify risks in the Canadian transportation system.

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 2017 data were collected according to the reporting requirements described in the TSB Regulations in force during that calendar year.

The statistics presented here reflect the TSB database on 13 February 2018. 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

Overview of accidents and casualties

In 2017, 1091 rail accidents^{Footnote 1} were reported to the TSB (Figure 1), a 21% increase from the 2016 total of 900, but unchanged from the previous 10-year (2007-2016) average of 1092.

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Freight trains accounted for approximately 34% of all trains involved in rail accidents in 2017. Five percent (55 in total) were passenger trains with the remaining 61% comprising mainly single cars/cuts of cars, locomotives and track units.

The largest proportion of reported rail accidents comprised non-main-track derailments^{Footnote 2} and collisions (58%) (Figure 2). Typically, most non-main-track accidents are minor, occurring during switching operations at speeds of less than 10 mph. In fact, non-main-track derailments and collisions that do not result in serious injury or damage are now (since 2014) classified as reportable incidents.

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The proportion of accidents that were main-track derailments or collisions in 2017 was approximately the same as both the previous year and the 10-year average.

In 2017, 13% of rail accidents involved vehicles or pedestrians at rail crossings, below the 17% average of the previous 10 years. The proportion of other accident types^{Footnote 4} (22%) in 2017 is above the previous 10-year average (16%).

In 2017, 115 accidents involved dangerous goods^{Footnote 5}, up from 101 in 2016 but below the 10-year average of 138. Four accidents resulted in a dangerous goods release in 2017, up from 1 in 2016, but consistent with the 10-year average. Two of the 4 accidents resulted in a release of molten sulphur, 1 resulted in a release of sodium chlorate, and 1 resulted in a release of petroleum crude oil.

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Rail fatalities (Figure 3) totalled 77 in 2017, up from 66 reported last year and comparable to the 10-year average of 76. Crossing fatalities totalled 19 in 2017, the same as in 2016 but below the 10-year average of 24. Trespasser^{Footnote 6} fatalities totalled 53 in 2017, up from 47 the previous year and above the 10-year average of 45. In 2017, 4 rail employees were fatally injured, above the 10-year average of 2 employee fatalities.

A total of 65 serious injuries resulted from rail occurrences in 2017 (Figure 4), up from 56 in 2016 and above the 10-year average of 56. Similarly, trespasser injuries totalled 23 in 2017, up from 20 last year and above the 10-year average of 19. Crossing accidents^{Footnote 7} resulted in 21 serious injuries, down from 24 in 2016 and below the 10-year average of 26. Nineteen rail employees were seriously injured in 2017, up from 15 in 2016 and above the 10-year average of 10.

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The number of main-track accidents^{Footnote 8} totalled 206 in 2017 (Figure 5), up 18% from 175 in 2016 and 9% above the 10-year average of 190. Rail activity^{Footnote 9} on main track increased by 6% from the previous year. The main-track accident rate in 2017 was 2.6 accidents per million main-track train-miles, up 12% from 2.3 in 2016 and 7% above the 10-year average of 2.4.

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Accidents by type

Main-track collisions and derailments are the most serious categories of rail accidents in terms of potential risk to the public and financial loss (e.g., when passenger trains are involved or dangerous goods are released from trains that derail in populated areas).

There were 3 main-track collisions (Figure 6) in 2017, down from the 2016 total of 5 and below the 10-year average of 6. No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from main-track collisions in 2017. There was no release of dangerous goods as a result of main-track collisions.

A total of 81 main-track derailments (Tables 4a & 4b) were reported in 2017, a 40% increase from the 2016 total of 58, but 13% below the 10-year average of 93 (Figure 6). Twenty–six percent of the 81 main-track derailments occurred in Alberta, 26% occurred in British Columbia, and 14% occurred in Saskstchewan (data not shown).

The number of main-track derailments per million main-track train-miles increased to 1.03 in 2017 from 0.78 the previous year but below the ten-year average of 1.19.

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No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from main-track derailments in 2017; but 10  involved the release of dangerous goods, the same number as in 2016 but below the 10-year average of 17. Three of these derailments resulted in release of product (2 molten sulphur, 1 sodium chlorate).

In 2017, 32% of assigned factors^{Footnote 10} for main-track derailments were equipment-related, similar to the 10-year average of 31%. Actions-related^{Footnote 11} factors accounted for 21% of assigned factors in 2017, up slightly compared to 17% for the 10-year average. Track-related factors were reported in 35% of main-track derailments in 2017, similar to the 10-year average of 37%.

Non-main-track collisions (Tables 5a & 5b) (Figure 7) totalled 103 in 2017, up by 49% from 69 in 2016, and above the 10-year average of 94. Derailments occurred in 38% of non-main-track collisions, and 41% of the derailments resulting from non-main-track collisions involved the derailment of one car.

Non-main-track collsions resulted in 2 serious injuries but no fatalites in 2017. Dangerous goods were involved in 38% 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 (90%) up from the 10-year average of 83%. Failure to protect, such as improper positioning of movements and handling of switches, was assigned most often (58%) as a factor.

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There were 525 non-main-track derailments^{Footnote 12} (Tables 6a & 6b) (Figure 7) in 2017, a 21% increase from 433 last year but 2% below the 10-year average of 535. In 78% of these accidents, 1 or 2 cars derailed. No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from non-main-track derailments in 2017.

Dangerous goods cars were involved in 10% of non-main-track derailment accidents, one of which resulted in a release of product (petroleum crude oil).

In 2017, actions-related factors represented 51% of all assigned factors for non-main-track derailment accidents, above the 10-year average of 44%. Track-related factors represented 29% of all assigned factors, below the 10-year average of 36%. Environmental-related factors represented 11% of all assigned factors in 2017, above the 10-year average of 7%.

Crossing accidents (Tables 7 and 8) represented one of the more serious types of rail accidents in 2017, with 25% of these resulting in either serious or fatal injuries.

There were 142 crossing accidents in 2017, a 7% increase from the 2016 total of 133 but 23% below the 10-year average of 184. The number of accidents at public automated crossings (69) was the same as the 2016 total, but 27% below the 10-year average of 94. Accidents at public passive crossings (47) increased 31% from the 2016 total of 36 but were 23% below the 10-year average of 61. Accidents at private and farm crossings (26) decreased 7% from the 2016 total of 28 and were 9% below the 10-year average of 29.

In 2017, the proportion of crossing accidents that occurred at public automated crossings was 49%, compared to 33% at public passive crossings (Figure 8). Although there are nearly two times more public passive crossings than public automated crossings, the higher number of accidents occurring at automated crossings is due, in part, to higher vehicle and train traffic volumes at these crossings.

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There were 19 fatal crossing accidents in 2017, up from the 16 reported in 2016 but below the 10-year average of 21. Although crossing accidents involving pedestrians accounted for 7% (10) of all crossing accidents in 2017, they accounted for 42% (8) of fatal crossing accidents.

Crossing-related fatalities totalled 19 in 2017, the same as in 2016 but down from the 10-year average of 24. Pedestrians comprised 42% of crossing-related fatalities.

In 2017, 5 crossing accidents resulted in derailments, down slightly from the 2016 total of 6 and below the 10-year average of 6.

There was no release of dangerous goods as a result of crossing accidents in 2017.

Except for in Nova Scotia, the number of crossing accidents in 2017 across all provinces and territories was lower than the 10-year average (Figure 9). Although Alberta was associated with the highest proportion (20%) of all crossing accidents, that proportion was below its 10-year average of 23%. Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan each comprised 18% of all crossing accidents, followed by British Columbia (13%) and Manitoba (11%).

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Trespasser accidents (Table 9) (Figure 10) involve persons not authorized to be on railway rights-of-way, who are struck by rolling stock at a location other than a railway crossing. These accidents totalled 81 in 2017, up from 70 in 2016 and above the 10-year average of 69. Ontario accounted for 44% of trespasser accidents, followed by British Columbia (22%) and Quebec (16%).

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In 2017, the proportion of trespasser accidents that were fatal (64%) was the same as the 10-year average. The proportion of trespasser accidents resulting in serious injuries (28%) was similar to the 10-year average of 27% (data not shown).

Incidents

Overview of incidents

In 2017, there were 272 reported rail incidents (Figure 11), down from 325 in 2016.

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Movement exceeds the limit of authority'^{Footnote 14} (45% of reportable incidents) continued to be the main incident type since 2007 (Figure 12), followed by 'non-main-track train derailments – no damage' (24%), 'dangerous goods leakers' (14%), 'uncontrolled movement of rolling stock' (4%), and 'main-track switch in abnormal position' (4%).

In 2017, there were 18 incidents and 44 accidents involving uncontrolled movement of rolling stock, bringing the total of these occurrences to 62, up from 51 in 2016. In addition, there were 122 incidents in 2017 where the movement exceeded the limit of authority, an 8% decrease from the 133 reported in 2016 but 5% above the 10-year average of 116.

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A 'dangerous goods (DG) leaker' incident^{Footnote 15} is the unintentional release of a hazardous material while in transit, and does not involve an accident. The reported DG leaker incidents totalled 39 in 2017, which is a 30% increase from 2016 (30) but 43% below the 10-year average of 69. Interestingly, while 'DG leaker' incidents represented 39% of all incidents in 2007, they accounted for only 14% of reported rail incidents in 2017 (Figure 12).

The overall decrease in DG leaker incidents since 2014 has been due in part to the harmonization of the new (2014) rail regulations with Part 8 of the TDG Regulations15.

Data tables

The TSB database is reviewed and reconciled on a routine basis. The updated statistics for accidents involving uncontrolled movement of rolling stock shown in Table 11 are the result of a recent and detailed review of all occurrences between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2017. As a result of this review additional accident occurrences were found to have been involved in uncontrolled movement of rolling stock.

The incidents statistics in Table 1 are categorized based only on the final result of the occurrence to avoid double counting of incidents. For example, an occurrence of uncontrolled movement that results in a derailment would be categorized as a derailment and it would not contribute to the number for uncontrolled movements of rolling stock reported. Table 12 shows incident statistics involving uncontrolled movement of rolling stock for all incidents, including those that were categorized as another incident type in Table 1. These statistics should not be used to calculate total number of incidents.

Definitions

The following definitions apply to railway occurrences that are required to be reported pursuant to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and the associated regulations.

Railway 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 railway 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
  • 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

Reportable railway 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, or
• There is an accidental release on board or from a rolling stock consisting of a quantity of dangerous goods or an emission of radiation that is greater than the quantity or emission level specified in Part 8 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations
• 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, 1992. 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.