The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 21 March 2017.
Uncontrolled movement of railway equipment
Cando Rail Services
Co-op Refinery Complex
Mile 91.10, Canadian National Railway Company
Quappelle Subdivision
Regina, Saskatchewan
The occurrence
On , at approximately 2335 Central Standard Time, the Cando Rail Services 2200 Co-op Refinery Complex assignment was switching tank cars loaded with asphalt at the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina, Saskatchewan. At 2347, tank car GATX 67963 rolled away uncontrolled. The car travelled about 2.7 miles (4.3 kilometres), reaching a speed of 19 mph. The car traversed 7 public crossings at grade, each protected by automatic warning devices, and 1 railway interlocking (diamond) that crossed the Canadian Pacific Railway's Lanigan Subdivision before coming to rest in the city of Regina. There were no injuries, and no dangerous goods were involved.
Media materials
News release
Inadequate securement and insufficient supervision led to March 2016 uncontrolled movement of railway equipment in Regina, Saskatchewan
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB investigating runaway rail car in Regina, Saskatchewan
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is conducting an investigation into the 2 March 2016 single rail car runaway involving a third-party operator on Canadian National track in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Investigation information
R16W0059
Uncontrolled movement of railway equipment
Cando Rail Services
Co-op Refinery Complex
Mile 91.10, Canadian National Railway Company
Quappelle Subdivision
Regina, Saskatchewan
Investigator-in-charge
Mr. Berriault has been with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) since 2007. He is a senior regional investigator, Central Region, based out of the Winnipeg, Manitoba, office.
Among other responsibilities, he has been the Investigator-in-charge of eight rail accident investigations and served as a team member in a number of other investigations throughout Canada providing operational and technical expertise.
Before joining the TSB, Mr. Berriault held numerous positions with Canadian National Railway (CN) from 1980 until 2007, including superintendent of operations. While at CN, he gained extensive knowledge of all aspects of train operations, including both the mechanical and engineering functions.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.