Rail transportation safety investigation R17D0123

The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 6 May 2019.

Table of contents

    Employee Fatality
    Canadian Pacific Railway
    Yard assignment FS23
    Mile 46.9, Adirondack Subdivision
    St-Luc Yard
    Montréal, Quebec

    View final report

    The occurrence

    On , Canadian Pacific Railway yard assignment FS23 was performing switching operations in St-Luc Yard at Mile 46.9 of the Canadian Pacific Railway Adirondack Subdivision, in Montréal, Quebec. At about 0600 Eastern Standard Time, while reversing southward in the dark at approximately 10 mph, the yard assignment struck and fatally injured the yard helper.

    Media materials

    News releases

    2019-05-06

    Absence of risk assessment, fatigue, and task interruption among factors that led to a 2017 railway employee fatality in Montréal, Quebec
    Read the news release

    Deployment notice

    2017-10-04

    TSB deploys a team of investigators to the site of a railway accident at Saint-Luc Yard in Montreal, QC

    The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the site of a Canadian Pacific railway accident at Saint-Luc Yard in Montreal, Quebec. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.

    Investigation information

    Map showing the location of the occurrence

    R17D0123

    Employee Fatality
    Canadian Pacific Railway
    Yard assignment FS23
    Mile 46.9, Adirondack Subdivision
    St-Luc Yard
    Montréal, Quebec

      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

    1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.