In May 2021, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) launched a safety issue investigation (SII) into the factors contributing to an increase in the rate of railway crossing accidents involving motor vehicles during winter months in Canada.
On , a Canadian National freight train derailed while proceeding southward at Mile 547 of the Chetwynd Subdivision, north of Anzac, British Columbia. An inspection revealed that 38 cars had derailed, including 2 residue tank cars that last contained sodium hydroxide solution and hydrogen peroxide. There were no injuries and no leaks.
On 30 June 2021, at approximately 1648 Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), a fire was reported near the Canadian National (CN) right-of-way in the vicinity of Mile 98.14 of the CN Ashcroft Subdivision, just west of the town of Lytton, British Columbia (BC). The fire grew rapidly due to the extreme hot and dry conditions combined with high velocity winds, and ultimately devastated the majority of the structures in the town’s downtown area.
On , VIA Rail Canada Inc. (VIA) train No. 53 was proceeding westward at 83 mph (134 km/h) when it struck a commercial cube van at a level crossing at Mile 11.75 in the Smiths Falls Subdivision. The vehicle's operator was fatally injured. One VIA service employee on the train sustained minor injuries. The train did not derail as a result of the occurrence but sustained extensive damage and could not continue.
On , a Canadian National (CN) crew reported that a locomotive was producing sparks at mile 124.9 of CN’s Three Hill Subdivision in Calgary, Alberta. Local fire services responded and extinguished right of way grass fires. No injuries were reported. The unit was taken to shop for inspection.
On at about 2034, an eastbound Ottawa Light Rail Transit (OLRT) train was proceeding from the north track to the south track at a speed of about 30 km/h, when it derailed about 90 m east of Tunney’s Pasture Station in Ottawa, Ontario. There were no passengers on board at the time of the derailment as the train was being moved from Tunney’s Pasture Station to OLRT Belfast Yard Maintenance and Storage Facility for repairs. The TSB deployed a team of investigators.
At approximately 1215 on 19 September 2021, westbound Ottawa Light Rail Transit (OLRT) commuter train 1121-1138 was proceeding on Track 1 when motor-bogie 2 on the trailing light rail vehicle (LRV) 1121 derailed near the middle of the Tremblay station north platform.
