What caused an 11-railcar derailment in Coalhurst, Alta.?

Crews work to right a train car following a derailment in the Kipp Yard near Coalhurst, Alta. on Feb. 11, 2024.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its findings following an investigation into a 2024 train derailment in Coalhurst, Alta., involving 11 railcars.

The rail collision happened at CPKC’s Kipp Yard just before midnight on Feb. 11.

The TSB says a Canadian Pacific yard crew (doing business as CPKC) was attempting to connect 66 railcars to a set of stationary cars using a remote‑control locomotive system.

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“While reversing toward the stationary cars, an inaccurate estimate of the remaining distance for coupling resulted in a collision with the stationary cars and the subsequent derailment,” the TSB said in a Wednesday news release.

No injuries were reported and no dangerous goods were spilled.

The TSB’s investigation determined the crew’s switching practices involved multiple adaptations from written instructions, reducing the safety margins those procedures were intended to provide.

“Additionally, the employee providing distance information was doing so by portable two-way radio while driving a vehicle, dividing his attention,” the TSB said. “Consequently, the combination of high cognitive load and reduced visibility at night affected his ability to provide accurate distance estimate instructions to the foreman.”

Transport Canada inspected the rail yard following the incident and issued a letter of non-compliance.

CPKC conducted a formal investigation and coached crew members on the rules, the TSB said.

The company also conducted job briefings and a safety blitz to educate local crews on the occurrence.

Transport Canada later issued a statement saying sufficient corrective action had been taken.