Canada Updates Rail Safety in Response to Lac-Megantic Tragedy

In reaction to the tragedy in Lac-Megantic Quebec, Canadian officials have beefed up the requirements for trains hauling dangerous materials.

This directive has been taken directly from the Government of Canada’s website, changes are to include:

Effective immediately, the emergency directive requires all rail operators to:

• Ensure that no locomotive attached to one or more loaded tank cars transporting dangerous goods is operated with fewer than two qualified persons on a main track or sidings;
• Ensure that no locomotive attached to one or more loaded tank cars transporting dangerous goods is left unattended on a main track;
• Ensure, within five days of the issuance of the directive, that all unattended controlling locomotives on a main track and sidings are protected from unauthorized entry into the cab;
• Ensure the directional controls, commonly known as reversers, are removed from any unattended locomotives, preventing them from moving forward or backward, on a main track or sidings;
• Ensure that their company’s special instructions on hand brakes are applied to any locomotive attached to one or more cars that is left unattended for more than one hour on a main track or sidings;
• Ensure that, in addition to complying with their company’s special instructions on hand brakes referred to in the item immediately above, the automatic brake is set in full service position and the independent brake is fully applied for any locomotive attached to one or more cars that are left unattended for one hour or less on a main track or sidings.

The rail industry in Canada has been under scrutiny for a multitude of issues lately and regulation has been an increasing concern for rail operators.

For more information please see the Government of Canada’s website: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?nid=758769