The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 22 October 2014.
Employee fatality
Canadian National Railway
Train L586 41-18
Mile 61.0, Tisdale Subdivision
Tisdale, Saskatchewan
The occurrence
On 18 November 2013, Canadian National Railway freight train L586 41-18 was switching into the Murphys interchange track at Mile 61.0 of Canadian National Railway's Tisdale Subdivision, near Tisdale, Saskatchewan. At about 1818 Central Standard Time, during the hours of darkness, while reversing westward at approximately 12 miles per hour, the train struck and seriously injured a conductor trainee. The employee was transported by ambulance to hospital, but succumbed to his injuries during transport.
Media materials
News releases
Lack of direct supervision and misapplication of safety critical operating procedures contributed to a 2013 fatal rail accident in Saskatchewan
Read the news release
Deployment notice
Transportation Safety Board of Canada deploys an investigator to the site of a Canadian National train accident near Melfort, Saskatchewan
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying an investigator to the site of a CN train accident near Melfort, Saskatchewan where an operating crew member was fatally injured while switching. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
R13W0260
Employee fatality
Canadian National Railway
Train L586 41-18
Mile 61.0, Tisdale Subdivision
Tisdale, Saskatchewan
Investigator-in-charge
George Fowler has been with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada since 2002. Before joining the TSB, he held various senior engineering positions over his 30-year career with CN in Edmonton, Kamloops, Montreal and Toronto
Mr. Fowler has extensive knowledge and experience in railroad engineering and has been involved in the investigations of a number of serious railroad occurrences across Canada since joining the TSB.
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.