The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 21 July 2016.
Movement exceeds limits of authority
Canadian Pacific Railway
Freight train 672-024
Mile 103, Cranbrook Subdivision
Cranbrook, British Columbia
The occurrence
On , at approximately 0130 Pacific Daylight Time, a rail traffic controller at Canadian Pacific Railway stopped train 672-024 near Mile 102 on the Cranbrook Subdivision after the train had departed Cranbrook, British Columbia, and travelled east for 5 miles without authorization. There were no conflicting movements
Media materials
News release
Lack of familiarity with territory and misinterpreted communication led to CP Railway train exceeding its limits of authority near Cranbrook, British Columbia, in March 2015
Read the news release
Investigation information
R15V0046
Movement exceeds limits of authority
Canadian Pacific Railway
Freight train 672-024
Mile 103, Cranbrook Subdivision
Cranbrook, British Columbia
Investigator-in-charge
Mr. Crawford has many years of national and international railway experience. In his early career, he was a locomotive engineer with Canadian National Railway on its BC North Corridor and Vancouver based territories and with BC Rail on the former BC Rail property. In addition, Mr. Crawford has experience in training and supervisory roles and was a staff member at CN’s Gimli, Manitoba training facility. Internationally, Mr. Crawford worked in Kosovo after the 1998/99 war as part of the UN Peace Keeping effort helping to restore rail service to the country. Most recently, Mr. Crawford worked in Saudi Arabia as a locomotive instructor.
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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.