The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 16 August 2021.
Main-track train derailment
Canadian Pacific Railway
Train 201-27
Mile 7.52, Leduc Subdivision
Blackfalds, Alberta
The occurrence
On , Canadian Pacific (CP) train 201-27 was operating southward at 20 mph with 75 cars, when 9 dangerous goods tank cars derailed at mile 7.5 of the Leduc Subdivision in Labuma, Alberta. Approximately 49 779 litres of diesel was released from 2 tank cars and an estimated 188 068 litres of octane was released from 6 tank cars. A tank car carrying aviation fuel did not release product. About 500 feet of track was damaged or destroyed. Emergency services were deployed, and vehicular traffic was rerouted around the site due to the release of dangerous goods. There was no evacuation, and no injuries were reported.
Media materials
News release
Undetected internal rail defect led to CP freight train derailment near Blackfalds, Alberta
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deployed a team of investigators to the site of a train derailment near Red Deer, Alberta
Calgary, Alberta, 28 September 2019 – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has deployed a team of investigators to the site of a Canadian Pacific train derailment near Red Deer, Alberta. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
R19E0147
Main-track train derailment
Canadian Pacific Railway
Train 201-27
Mile 7.52, Leduc Subdivision
Blackfalds, Alberta
Investigator-in-charge
Track and Infrastructure Engineer, Transportation Safety Board of Canada
George Fowler is the Track and Infrastructure Engineer for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). Located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mr. Fowler provides railroad engineering accident investigation expertise for the TSB across Canada, through evaluation and analysis of track, structures, and signal infrastructure performance.
Mr. Fowler joined the TSB in 2002 after a 30-year career with Canadian National Railway, where he held various engineering positions in planning, inspection, production, construction, and maintenance. With the TSB, he has been investigator-in-charge of a number of major accidents involving track infrastructure failure, wheel/rail interaction, track/train dynamics, and human performance. He is responsible for defining and validating both engineering and operational safety issues and deficiencies.
Mr. Fowler is a professional engineer with a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta, and is a member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA).
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.