Rail transportation safety investigation R21S0048
The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 26 March 2024.
Table of contents
Main-track train derailment
Canadian Pacific Railway Company
Freight train 603-897
Mile 32.75, Lanigan Subdivision
Silton, Saskatchewan
The occurrence
At about 0500 Central Standard Time on 16 October 2021, Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CP) freight train 603-897, a unit train hauling 200 covered hopper freight cars loaded with potash, was proceeding southward at 38.6 mph on the CP Lanigan Subdivision when it experienced a train-initiated emergency brake application at Mile 31.58, near Silton, Saskatchewan. The head-end locomotive came to a stop at Mile 31.18. Subsequent inspection by the conductor determined that 27 freight cars had derailed near Mile 32.75. Many of the derailed cars had come to rest in a large pile, were breached, and had released their contents. There were no injuries and no dangerous goods were involved.
Media materials
News releases
Undetected rail flaw led to broken rail and subsequent derailment near Silton, Saskatchewan
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deployed an investigator to the site of a train derailment near Silton, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 16 October 2021 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has deployed an investigator following a derailment involving a Canadian Pacific train near Silton, Saskatchewan. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
Map showing the location of the occurrence
Investigator-in-charge
Reinhard Sommerfeld joined the TSB in September 2021 as Regional Senior Rail Investigator in the Central Region. He has nearly 38 years of service with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). During his career, he has been exposed to the full range of engineering activities associated with track maintenance and held various positions of increasing responsibility. He completed accident cause finding courses and, for a number of years, has been actively involved in determining causes and corrective actions for CP derailments. He has also served on CP’s Health and Safety Committee for 12 years.
In 2007, Mr. Sommerfeld became a Roadmaster (Manager of Track) and worked on several CP subdivisions. He managed work crews and planned track maintenance work activities.
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.