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Rail transportation safety investigation R19E0147

The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 16 August 2021.

Table of contents

Main-track train derailment

Canadian Pacific Railway
Train 201-27
Mile 7.52, Leduc Subdivision
Blackfalds, Alberta

View final report

The occurrence

On , Canadian Pacific (CP) train 201-27 was operating southward at 20 mph with 75 cars, when 9 dangerous goods tank cars derailed at mile 7.5 of the Leduc Subdivision in Labuma, Alberta. Approximately 49 779 litres of diesel was released from 2 tank cars and an estimated 188 068 litres of octane was released from 6 tank cars. A tank car carrying aviation fuel did not release product. About 500 feet of track was damaged or destroyed. Emergency services were deployed, and vehicular traffic was rerouted around the site due to the release of dangerous goods. There was no evacuation, and no injuries were reported.


Media materials

News release

2021-08-16

Undetected internal rail defect led to CP freight train derailment near Blackfalds, Alberta
Read the news release

Deployment notice

2019-09-28

TSB deployed a team of investigators to the site of a train derailment near Red Deer, Alberta

Calgary, Alberta, 28 September 2019 – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has deployed a team of investigators to the site of a Canadian Pacific train derailment near Red Deer, Alberta. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.


Investigation information

Map showing the location of the occurrence


Investigator-in-charge

Photo of George Fowler

Track and Infrastructure Engineer, Transportation Safety Board of Canada

George Fowler is the Track and Infrastructure Engineer for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). Located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mr. Fowler provides railroad engineering accident investigation expertise for the TSB across Canada, through evaluation and analysis of track, structures, and signal infrastructure performance.

Mr. Fowler joined the TSB in 2002 after a 30-year career with Canadian National Railway, where he held various engineering positions in planning, inspection, production, construction, and maintenance. With the TSB, he has been investigator-in-charge of a number of major accidents involving track infrastructure failure, wheel/rail interaction, track/train dynamics, and human performance. He is responsible for defining and validating both engineering and operational safety issues and deficiencies.

Mr. Fowler is a professional engineer with a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta, and is a member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA).


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.