CN receives five points to ponder from Transport Canada

While the Transportation Safety board continues to investigate Saturday's derailment in Prince Geroge, Transport Canada has issued five orders for CN to implement.

The Opinion 250 website has the details on the items of concern to Transport Canada, which CN has apparently already put into effect.

Canada Rail Safety is set to monitor the operations in Prince George to make sure that CN complies.

CN Gets Orders in Wake of Prince George Derailment
Opinion 250
Tuesday, August 7, 2007

In the wake of Saturday’s collision of two CN trains in Prince George, Transport Canada has sent a notice and order to CN Rail setting out five areas which need immediate action.

Transport Canada says it had a Dangerous Goods Transportation Inspector, and a Rail Safety Inspector on the scene of the crash and they have written the following orders:

1. Train movement will not be protected by the “point protection “ zone, and any existing instructions related to the “point potection” zone ( P.P.Zone) are null and void. (The inspectors believe this zone, which was to control train traffic, gave operators a false sense of security that there was only one train in the zone at any given time.)

2. An employee must physically be on a leading end of equipment to view the track at all times to avoid possible conflicts when switching. (Opinion250 has been told the trains were being operated by "remote control")

3. The maximum cars to be handled is 30 loads, or 40 cars, but if 40, at least 10 have to be empty. (CN has confirmed there were3 locomotives and 53 cars on the northbound train, while the southbound train had two locomotives and 67 cars)

4. There has to be a sufficient number of cars with operating air brakes to control movement.

5. All data related to the braking performance, inspection repairs and yard engines assigned to switching duties, must be retained for 30 days.

Canada Rail Safety will monitor to ensure the conditions are met.

CN has received the order, and has taken immediate action to comply.