Rail transportation occurrences in 2018

This document is a summary of selected 2018 rail transportation 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 analyze 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 2018 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 RODS database at 18 February 2019. 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 2018, 1172 rail accidents^{Footnote 1} were reported to the TSB (Figure 1), a 7% increase from the 2017 total of 1091, and a 10% increase from the previous 10-year (2008–2017) average of 1067. The TSB has noted these increases and will analyse this issue in more depth to try to determine possible causal factors.

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Freight trains accounted for approximately 30% of all trains involved in rail accidents in 2018. Five percent (68 in total) were passenger trains with the remaining 65% 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 (60%) (Figure 2). Typically, most non-main-track accidents are minor, occurring during switching operations at speeds of less than 10 mph.

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* Due to rounding of percentages in data 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 or collisions in 2018 was approximately the same as both the previous year and the 10-year average.

In 2018, 14% 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 3} (18%) in 2018 is approximately the same as the previous 10-year average (17%).

In 2018, 125 accidents involved dangerous goods,^{Footnote 4} up from 115 in 2017 but below the 10-year average of 129. Six accidents resulted in a dangerous goods release in 2018, compared to 5 in 2017, and the 10-year average of 4.

Rail fatalities (Figure 3) totalled 57 in 2018, down from 76 reported last year and from  the 10-year average of 75. Crossing fatalities totalled 19 in 2018, the same as in 2017 but below the 10-year average of 23. Trespasser^{Footnote 5} fatalities totalled 34 in 2018, down from 53 in the previous year and below the 10-year average of 44. In 2018, 4 rail employees were fatally injured, above the 10-year average of 2 employee fatalities.

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A total of 91 serious injuries resulted from rail occurrences in 2018 (Figure 4), up from 65 in 2017 and above the 10-year average of 57. Similarly, trespasser injuries totalled 30 in 2018, up from 22 last year and above the 10-year average of 19. Seventeen rail employees were seriously injured in 2018, down from 19 in 2017 but above the 10-year average of 10. Crossing accidents^{Footnote 6} resulted in 42 serious injuries, up from 22 in 2017 and above the 10-year average of 26.

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The number of main-track accidents^{Footnote 7} totalled 213 in 2018 (Figure 5), up 9% from 195 in 2017 and 16% above the 10-year average of 183. Rail activity^{Footnote 8} on main track (i.e., non-yard) increased by 6% from the previous year. The main-track accident rate in 2018 was 2.6 accidents per million main-track train miles, up 3% from 2.5 in 2017 and 10% above the 10-year average of 2.3.

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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 5 main-track collisions (Figure 6) in 2018, up from the 2017 total of 3 but the same as the 10-year average. No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from main-track collisions in 2018. There was no release of dangerous goods as a result of main-track collisions.

A total of 88 main-track derailments (Tables 4a and 4b) were reported in 2018, a 9% increase from the 2018 total of 81, and 3% above the 10-year average of 85 (Figure 6). Twenty–three percent of the 88 main-track derailments occurred in Alberta, 22% occurred in Saskstchewan, and 20% occurred in British Columbia.

The number of main-track derailments per million main-track train miles (i.e., non-yard)  increased to 1.06 in 2018 from 1.04 the previous year but below the 10-year average of 1.09.

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One fatality and 3 serious injuries resulted from main-track derailments in 2018. Seventeen involved dangerous goods, up from the 2017 total of 10 and above the 10-year average of 14. Three of these derailments resulted in release of product (1 crude oil, 1 toluene and acetone, and 1 propane).

In 2018, 26% of assigned factors^{Footnote 9} for main-track derailments were equipment-related, down from the 10-year average of 31%. Actions-related factors^{Footnote 10} accounted for 33% of assigned factors in 2018, up compared to 19% for the 10-year average. Track-related factors were reported in 27% of main-track derailments in 2018, below the 10-year average of 38%.

Non-main-track collisions (Tables 5a and 5b) (Figure 7) totalled 101 in 2018, similar to the 2017 total of 103, but above the 10-year average of 93. Derailments occurred in 47% of non-main-track collisions, and 57% of the derailments resulting from non-main-track collisions involved the derailment of one car.

Non-main-track collisions resulted in 2 fatalites in 2018. Dangerous goods were involved in 33% 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 (87%), comparable to the 10-year average of 85%. Failure to protect, such as improper positioning of movements and handling of switches, was assigned most often (54%) as a factor.

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There were 600 non-main-track derailments^{Footnote 11} in 2018 (Tables 6a and 6b) (Figure 7), an 11% increase from 541 last year and 14% above the 10-year average of 526. In 80% of these accidents, 1 or 2 cars derailed. No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from non-main-track derailments in 2018.

Non-main-track derailments involving fewer than 6 cars accounted for 77% of the accident increase in 2018 compared to the 10-year average. The TSB has noted this increase and will analyse the issue in more depth to try and determine possible causal factors.

Dangerous goods cars were involved in 10% of non-main-track derailment accidents, none of which resulted in a release of product.

In 2018, actions-related factors represented 51% of all assigned factors for non-main-track derailment accidents, above the 10-year average of 45%. Track-related factors represented 30% of all assigned factors, below the 10-year average of 35%. Environmental-related factors represented 13% of all assigned factors in 2018, above the 10-year average of 8%.

Crossing accidents (Tables 7 and 8) represented one of the more serious types of rail accidents in 2018, with 29% of these resulting in either serious or fatal injuries.

There were 167 crossing accidents in 2018, a 17% increase from the 2017 total of 143 but 5% below the 10-year average of 176. The number of accidents at public automated crossings (86) was up from the 2017 total of 70, but 4% below the 10-year average of 90. Accidents at public passive crossings (52) increased 11% from the 2017 total of 47 but were 11% below the 10-year average of 59. Accidents at private and farm crossings (29) increased 12% from the 2017 total of 26 and were 4% above the 10-year average of 28.

In 2018, the proportion of crossing accidents that occurred at public automated crossings was 51%, compared to 31% at public passive crossings (Figure 8). Although there are nearly twice as many 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. The TSB is conducting further ongoing research to better understand crossing accident data.

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There were 18 fatal crossing accidents in 2018, down from the 19 reported in 2017 and below the 10-year average of 21. Although crossing accidents involving pedestrians accounted for 11% (18) of all crossing accidents in 2018, they accounted for 56% (10) of fatal crossing accidents.

Crossing-related fatalities totalled 19 in 2018, the same as in 2017 but down from the 10-year average of 23. Pedestrians comprised 53% of crossing-related fatalities.

Crossing-related serious injuries totalled 42 in 2018, up from the 2017 total of 22 and above the 10-year average of 26.

In 2018, 7 crossing accidents resulted in derailments, up from the 2017 total of 5 and above the 10-year average of 5.

Two  crossing accidents resulted in release of product in 2018 (1 water/oil by-product, 1 ethanol).

Ontario had the highest proportion (26%) of all crossing accidents in 2018, above its 10-year average of 23%. Alberta had the second highest total with 21% of crossings accidents, followed by Quebec with 14%, Saskatchewan and British Columbia with 13% each, and Manitoba with 9% (Figure 9).

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Trespasser accidents (Table 9) (Figure 10) totalled 69 in 2018, down from 80 in 2017 but above the 10-year average of 67. Ontario accounted for 45% of trespasser accidents, followed by British Columbia and Quebec with 17% each and Alberta with 14%.

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In 2018, the proportion of trespasser accidents that were fatal (49%) was below the 10-year average of 65%. The proportion of trespasser accidents resulting in serious injuries (43%) was above the 10-year average of 28% (data not shown).

Incidents

Overview of incidents

In 2018, there were 283 reported rail incidents (Figure 11), up from 235 in 2017.

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* New TSB Regulations came into effect on 1 July 2014.

“Movement exceeds the limit of authority”^{Footnote 12} (48% of reportable incidents) continued to be the main incident type since 2008 (Figure 12), followed by “non-main-track train derailments – no damage” (33%),  “uncontrolled movement of rolling stock” (5%), and “unprotected overlap of authorities” (4%). There were no dangerous goods leaker incidents in 2018.^{Footnote 13}

In addition to the 15 “uncontrolled movement of rolling stock” incidents and 4 other collision/derailment incidents involving an “uncontrolled movement of rolling stock” in 2018, there were 44 accidents involving an “uncontrolled movement of rolling stock,” for a total of 63 occurrences. This is fewer than the total (65) of those occurrences in 2017.

There were 137 incidents in 2018 where the movement exceeded the limit of authority, a 12% increase from the 122 reported in 2017 and 16% above the 10-year average of 118.

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*  In 2018, the TSB retroactively applied a June 2016 regulatory change by Transport Canada that revised the criteria for a dangerous goods leaker from a volume-based threshold to outcome-based consequences, resulting in the re-categorization of a number of occurrences. Consequently, the number of dangerous goods leaker incidents between June 2016 and December 2018 fell from 78 to 1.

Data tables

Definitions

The following definitions apply to rail transportation 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 which results in any of the events listed in subsection 8.4(2) of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, under which TSB DG leaker incidents are only reportable if they result in death or serious injury, evacuation, or the closure of a DG loading facility, a road, a main railway line, or a main waterway.
• 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.