Communiqués

TSB # R 13/97

(For release 28 November 1997)

(Hull, Quebec) - The investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is continuing into the collision at Toronto Union Station, on the afternoon of 19 November 1997, between an empty GO Transit train being positioned for a trip to Richmond Hill and a stationary loaded GO Transit train preparing for departure.

The empty train was travelling at approximately 12 mph when it collided with a train, bound for Georgetown with over 800 passengers on board. The more than 50 passengers who were injured were either treated on site or transported to hospital. None of the passengers suffered life-threatening injuries.

So far, investigators have been able to confirm that both the locomotive and rear-end cab of the Richmond Hill train were occupied by qualified crew, and that both the brakes and the on-board communications system were in working order when they were checked after the accident. Data from the event recorder show that the brakes were not applied prior to the accident, but the investigation has yet to determine why they were not applied.

The TSB investigation is multi-faceted and is addressing such areas as: the mechanical operation of the braking system on the Richmond Hill train; the on-board communications system and procedures; the design of the cab control compartment; the procedures in place to provide protection when GO Transit trains are backing up; the signal system; crew training; crew supervision; general operating procedures; event recorder data; and passenger safety issues.

The TSB will issue a public report upon completion of its investigation. However, the Board may also issue interim recommendations, at any time during the investigation, if any safety deficiencies are identified that pose serious risk to persons, property, or the environment.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is an independent agency operating under its own Act of Parliament. 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.

NOTE: This update is based on information assembled by investigation staff and may be amended as other facts are gathered. The analysis phase of the investigation is not complete and one should not attempt to infer findings as to the causes and contributing factors of the accident on the basis of this update. When the investigation team has all the necessary facts and has analyzed them, the Director of Investigations (DOI) will report them to the Board. The Board will consider the DOI's report and, once it is satisfied that a thorough investigation and analysis has been completed, will issue a draft report on the Board's findings and any safety deficiencies identified; that report will be sent on a confidential basis to persons with a direct interest in the Board's findings. Once these persons have had the opportunity to make representations, the Board will prepare and release its public report.

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