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Statistical Summary - Railway Occurrences 2015

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Foreward

This document is a summary of selected 2015 railway safety data. It covers federally regulated railways only. Data concerning non-federally regulated railways reported to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) are not included in this report.

The TSB gathers and uses these data during the course of its investigations to analyse safety deficiencies and identify risks in the Canadian transportation system.

The 2015 data were collected according to the reporting requirements described in the Transportation Safety Board Regulations in force during that calendar year.

The statistics presented here reflect the TSB database at 17 February 2016. Since the occurrence data are constantly being updated in the live database, the statistics may change slightly over time.

Because many occurrences are not formally investigated, information recorded on some occurrences may not have been verified. Consequently, be cautious in using these statistics.

The following data tables are associated with the Statistical Summary – Railway Occurrences 2015.

Accidents

Overview of accidents and casualties

In 2015, 1200 rail accidents Footnote 1 were reported to the TSB (Figure 1), a 3% decrease from the 2014 total of 1238 but an 8% increase from the 2010–­2014 average of 1115.

Figure 1. Number of rail accidents, 2006–2015
Graph showing the number of rail accidents, 2006–2015
Figure 1 data table
Figure 1. The figure is a bar graph representing the number of rail accidents per year from 2006 to 2015
Year Number of Accidents
2006 1371
2007 1334
2008 1199
2009 1055
2010 1116
2011 1072
2012 1051
2013 1100
2014 1238
2015 1200

Approximately 34% of the trains involved in rail accidents in 2015 were freight trains; 4% (57 trains) were passenger trains. The remaining 62% were mainly single cars or cuts of cars, locomotives, and track units.

The majority of reported rail accidents (62%) were non-main-track derailments Footnote 2 and collisions (Figure 2). Excluding crossing and trespasser accidents, non-main-track accidents accounted for more than three quarters of the total (77%) in 2015. Most non-main-track accidents are minor, occurring during switching operations at speeds of less than 10 mph.

Figure 2. Percentage of rail accidents by type, 2015
Graph showing the percentage of rail accidents by type, 2015
Figure 2 data table
Figure 2. The figure is a pie chart representing the percentages of rail accidents by type in 2015.
Rail accident type Number Percentage
Main-track collisions 4 0.3%
Main-track derailments 77 6%
Crossing accidents 165 14%
Non-main-track collisions 95 8%
Non-main-track derailments 647 54%
Other 212 18%

Main-track derailments and collisions accounted for 7% of all accidents in 2015, compared with 9% in the previous year.

In 2015, 14% of rail accidents involved vehicles or pedestrians at rail crossings, down slightly from the 16% average in the previous 5-year period. The proportion of other accident types Footnote 3 (18%) in 2015 is up slightly from the previous 5-year average (15%).

In 2015, 144 accidents involved dangerous goods, Footnote 4 down from 174 in 2014 and comparable to the 5-year average of 140. Six accidents resulted in a dangerous goods release in 2015, up from 4 in 2014, and up from the 5-year average of 4. Two of the 6 accidents resulted in a release of petroleum crude oil, 1 resulted in a release of liquid petroleum gas, and 1 resulted in a release of diesel fuel from a tanker truck involved in a crossing accident.

There was a total of 46 rail fatalities in 2015, down from 57 recorded last year and down from the 5-year average of 83. Of these, there were 15 crossing fatalities, down from 21 in 2014 and down from the 5-year average of 27 (Figure 3) and 30 trespasser Footnote 5 fatalities, down from 33 last year and down from the 5-year average of 44. One 1 rail employee was fatally injured, down from the 5-year average of 3 employee fatalities.

Figure 3. Number of fatalities, by type of occurrence, 2006–2015
Graph showing the number of fatalities by type of occurrence, 2006–2015
Figure 3 data table
Figure 3. The figure is a bar graph representing the number of fatalities by type of occurrence per year, from 2006 à 2015.
Year Crossing Accidents Trespasser Accidents All Others
2006 28 59 8
2007 26 55 3
2008 28 45 1
2009 19 52 0
2010 24 55 2
2011 25 43 3
2012 33 45 4
2013 30 44 52
2014 21 33 3
2015 15 30 1

A total of 50 serious injuries resulted from rail occurrences in 2015 (Figure 4), down slightly from 53 in 2014 and down as well from the 5-year average of 56. There were 17 trespasser injuries in 2015, a reduction from 21 in the previous year and less than the 5-year average of 19. Crossing accidents Footnote 6 resulted in 18 serious injuries, down from 29 in 2014 and down from the 5-year average of 28. Eight rail employees were seriously injured in 2015, compared with 7 in 2014 and the average of 8 in the previous 5-year period.

Figure 4. Number of serious injuries by type of occurrence, 2006–2015
Graph showing the number of serious injuries by type of occurrence, 2006–2015
Figure 4 data table
Figure 4. Figure 4 is a bar graph representing the number of serious injuries by type of accident per year, from 2006 to 2015.
Year Crossing Accidents Trespasser Accidents All Others
2006 30 27 14
2007 23 24 12
2008 37 20 8
2009 21 15 14
2010 28 19 17
2011 22 21 9
2012 32 22 19
2013 27 10 2
2014 29 21 3
2015 18 17 15

The number of main-track accidents Footnote 7 totalled 223 in 2015 (Figure 5), up 5% from 212 in 2014 and up 24% from the 5-year average of 180. With reported rail activity Footnote 8 on main track having decreased 3% from the previous year, the main-track accident rate in 2015 was 3.0 accidents per million main-track train-miles, up 8% from 2.8 in 2014, and up 30% from the 5-year average of 2.3.

Figure 5. Number of serious injuries by type of occurrence, 2006–2015
Graph showing the number of serious injuries by type of occurrence, 2006–2015
Figure 5 data table
Figure 5. The figure is a bar graph that shows main-track accidents and main-track accident rates per million main-track train miles per year, from 2006 to 2015.
Year Main-track accidents Main-track accidents per million main-track train miles
2006 209 2.4
2007 258 3.1
2008 209 2.5
2009 170 2.4
2010 165 2.1
2011 201 2.6
2012 136 1.7
2013 184 2.3
2014 212 2.8
2015 223 3.0

Accidents by type

Main-track collisions and derailments are the most serious categories of rail accidents in terms of potential risk to the public and of financial loss (e.g., when passenger trains are involved or dangerous goods are released from trains that derail in populated areas).

There were 4 main-track collisions (Figure 6) in 2015, down from 9 in 2104 and the average of 5 over the previous 5-year period. These collisions did not result in any fatalities or serious injuries or lead to the release of dangerous goods.

A total of 77 main-track derailments were reported in 2015, a 25% decrease from the 2014 total of 102 and a 14% decrease from the 5-year average of 89 (Figure 6). Of the 77 main-track derailments, 21 occurred in Ontario (27%) and 17 occurred in Alberta (22%). However, while 7 of the 21 Ontario derailments (33%) involved 6 or more cars, 10 of the 17 Alberta derailments (59%) involved 6 or more cars.

The number of main-track derailments per million main-track train-miles decreased to 1.0 in 2015 from 1.3 the previous year and from the 5-year average of 1.1.

No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from main-track derailments in 2015.

Figure 6. Number of main-track collisions and derailments, 2006–2015
Graph showing the number of main-track collisions and derailments, 2006–2015
Figure 6 data table
Figure 6. The figure is a bar graph showing the number of main-track derailments and the number of main-track collisions per year, from 2006 to 2015.
Year Main-track collisions Main-track derailments
2006 2 139
2007 9 160
2008 7 129
2009 5 67
2010 4 82
2011 3 110
2012 6 68
2013 4 84
2014 9 102
2015 4 77

In 2015, there were 12 main-track derailments involving dangerous goods, down from 25 in 2014 and the average of 15 in the previous 5-year period. Three of these resulted in a release of product (crude oil or liquified petroleum gas).

In 2015, 39% of assigned factors Footnote 9 for main-track derailments were track-related compared with the 5-year average of 37%. Equipment-related factors accounted for 29% of assigned factors compared with the 5-year average of 31%. Actions-related factors Footnote 10 were reported in 18% of main-track derailments in 2015 compared with the 5-year average of 21%.

There were 95 non-main-track collisions in 2015, down from 114 in 2014 (Figure 7) and comparable to the 5-year average of 99. Derailments occurred in 33% of non-main-track collisions, and 74% of those derailments involved the derailment of 1 car.

No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from non-main-track collisions in 2015.

Dangerous goods were involved in 34% of non-main-track collisions, none of which resulted in a release of product.

Factors assigned to non-main-track collisions were mostly actions-related (88%) compared with 87% for the last 5-year average. Failure to protect, such as improper positioning of movements and handling of switches, was assigned most often as a factor.

Figure 7. Number of non-main-track collisions and derailments, 2006–2015
Graph showing the number of non-main-track collisions and derailments, 2006–2015
Figure 7 data table
Figure 7. The figure is a bar graph showing the number of non main-track derailments and the number of non main-track collisions per year, from 2006 to 2015.
Year Non main-track collisions Non main-track derailments
2006 110 703
2007 105 641
2008 92 589
2009 95 509
2010 95 576
2011 89 522
2012 101 530
2013 94 551
2014 114 647
2015 95 647

There were 647 non-main-track derailments Footnote 11 in 2015, unchanged from last year and up 14% from the 5-year average of 565 (Figure 7). In 83% of these accidents, 1 or 2 cars derailed.

No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from non-main-track derailments in 2015.

Dangerous goods cars were involved in 14% of non-main-track derailments with 2 resulting in a release of dangerous goods (ammonium nitrate, styrene monomer).

In 2015, actions-related factors represented 51% of all assigned factors for non-main-track derailments, up from the 5-year average of 45%. Track-related factors represented 31% of all assigned factors, comparable to the 5-year average of 34%. Environmental-related factors represented 9% of all assigned factors in 2015, unchanged from the 5-year average.

Crossing accidents represented one of the more serious types of rail accidents in 2015, with 18% of these resulting in either serious or fatal injuries.

There were 165 crossing accidents in 2015, an 11% decrease from the 2014 total of 185 and a 10% decrease from the 5-year average of 182. Accidents at public automated crossings (79) decreased 8% from the 2014 total of 86 and 15% from the 5-year average of 93. Accidents at public passive crossings (52) decreased 24% from the 2014 total of 68 and 22% from the 5-year average of 66. Accidents at private and farm crossings (34) increased 10% from the 2014 total of 31 and 49% from the 5-year average of 23.

In 2015, the proportion of crossing accidents that occurred at public automated crossings was 48%, compared with 32% at public passive crossings (Figure 8). Although there are nearly twice as many public passive crossings as public automated crossings, the higher number of accidents at automated crossings is due, in part, to higher vehicle and train traffic volumes at these crossings.

Figure 8. Percentage of crossing accidents by type of crossing, 2015
Graph showing the percentage of crossing accidents by type of crossing, 2015
Figure 8 data table
Figure 8. The figure 8 is a pie chart that shows the breakdown of crossing accidents by type of crossing in 2015.
Type of crossing Number Percentage
Public passive 52 32%
Public automated 79 48%
Private 28 17%
Farm 6 4%

There were 15 fatal crossing accidents in 2015, down from the 21 reported in 2014 and down also from the 5-year average of 23. Although crossing accidents involving pedestrians accounted for 5% (8) of all crossing accidents in 2015, they accounted for 27% (4) of fatal crossing accidents.

Crossing-related fatalities totalled 15 in 2015 compared with 21 in 2014 and the average of 27 in the previous 5-year period. Pedestrians were 27% of crossing-related fatalities.

In 2015, 6 crossing accidents resulted in derailments, down from the 2014 total of 9 but up from the 5-year average of 5.

One crossing accident resulted in a release of dangerous goods (from a tanker truck struck at a level crossing).

Alberta was the province where the most crossing accidents occurred, accounting for 23% of all crossing accidents, comparable to its 5-year average of 24% (Figure 9). Ontario had the second highest total with 18% of crossing accidents, down from its 5-year average of 24%. Those provinces were followed by Quebec with 17%, Saskatchewan with 14%, and Manitoba and British Columbia with 12% each.

Figure 9. Number of crossing accidents by province, 2015
Graph showing the number of crossing accidents by province, 2015
Figure 9 data table
Figure 9. The figure is a bar graph representing the average number of crossing accidents by province for the years 2010 to 2014, compared to the number of crossing accidents by province for 2015.
Province 2010-2014 Average 2015
B.C. 20 19
ALTA. 45 38
SASK. 30 23
MAN. 18 19
ONT. 43 29
QUE. 21 28
N.B. 4 7
N.S. 1 2
NFLD./LAB. 0 0
N.W.T/Y.T. 0 0

Trespasser accidents involve persons, primarily pedestrians, not authorized to be on railway rights-of-way and who are struck by rolling stock at a location other than a railway crossing. These accidents totalled 50 in 2015, down from the 2014 total of 55 and down also from the 5-year average of 66.

In 2015, Ontario accounted for 46% of trespasser accidents (23), followed by British Columbia with 24%. Quebec accounted for 10% of all trespasser accidents, followed by Alberta and Saskatchewan with 8% each (Figure 10).

Figure 10. Number of trespasser accidents by province, 2015
Graph showing the number of trespasser accidents by province, 2015
Figure 10 data table
Figure 10. The figure is a bar graph representing the average number of trespasser accidents by province for the years 2010 to 2014, compared to the number of trespasser accidents by province for 2015.
Province 2010-2014 Average 2015
B.C. 12 12
ALTA. 8 4
SASK. 3 4
MAN. 2 1
ONT. 30 23
QUE. 9 5
N.B. 1 1
N.S. 0.2 0
NFLD./LAB. 0 0
N.W.T/Y.T. 0 0

In 2015, the proportion of trespasser accidents that were fatal (60%) was down compared with the 5-year average of 65%. The proportion of trespasser accidents resulting in serious injuries (34%) was higher than the 5-year average of 28%.

Incidents

Overview of incidents

In 2015, there were 216 reported rail incidents (Figure 11), which is comparable to 218 in 2014 and the 5-year average of 220. Incidents of the type “movement exceeds the limit of authority” Footnote 12 (66% of reportable incidents) were the main type of incident, as it has been since 2006, followed by dangerous goods leakers (15%), runaway rolling stock (6%), and main-track switch in abnormal position (6%).

There were 14 runaway rolling stock incidents and 28 rolling stock accidents in 2015, giving a total of 42 occurrences, up from 30 in 2014.

Figure 11. Number of rail incidents, 2006–2015
Graph showing the number of rail incidents, 2006–2015
Figure 11 data table
Figure 11. The figure is a bar graph representing the number of rail incidents per year from 2006 to 2015.
Year Number of incidents
2006 220
2007 223
2008 216
2009 209
2010 188
2011 233
2012 238
2013 224
2014 218
2015 216

In 2015, there were 142 incidents where the movement exceeded the limit of authority, a 10% increase from the 129 recorded in 2014 and a 25% increase from the 5-year average of 113 (Figure 12).

Figure 12. Number of rail incidents by type, 2015
Graph showing the number of rail incidents by type, 2015
Figure 12 data table
Figure 12. The figure is a bar graph showing the average number of reportable rail incidents by type for the period of 2010 to 2014 compared to the 2015 results.
Rail incident type 2010-2014 Average 2015
Trespasser 0 1
Crew member incapacitated 3 2
Unprotected overlap of authorities 5 6
Signal less restrictive than required 2 5
Runaway rolling stock 12 14
Movement exceeds limits of authority 113 142
Main-track switch in abnormal position 7 13
Dangerous goods leaker 79 33

A dangerous goods (DG) leaker incident Footnote 13 is the unintentional release of a hazardous material while in transit, and does not involve an accident. Twelve percent of these incidents in 2015 involved the release of petroleum crude oil. The 33 reported DG leaker incidents in 2015 represented a 48% decrease from the 2014 total of 63 and a 58% decrease from the 5-year average of 79. DG leaker incidents accounted for 37% of all incidents in 2006, but 15% in 2015 (Figure 12).

The decrease in DG leaker incidents in 2014 and 2015 was due in part to the harmonization of the new rail regulations with Part 8 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations. A DG release of flammable liquid (Class 3) is a reportable incident if more than 200 litres are released. The new regulations do not specify a threshold for reportable gas releases (Class 2).

Definitions

The following definitions apply to railway occurrences that are required to be reported pursuant to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and the associated Regulations.

Railway occurrence

Reportable railway accident

Reportable railway incident

Serious injury

Dangerous goods involvement

“Dangerous goods” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992. An accident is considered to have dangerous goods involvement if any car in the consist carrying (or having last contained) a dangerous good derails, strikes or is struck by any other rolling stock or object. It does not mean that there was any release of any product. Also included are crossing accidents in which the motor vehicle involved (e.g., tanker truck) is carrying a dangerous good.

Derailment

Any instance where 1 or more wheels of rolling stock have come off the normal running surface of the rail, including occurrences where there are no injuries and no damage to track or equipment.