News release

Today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report (R22C0065) into the 2022 train derailment near Bassano, Alberta.

On July 13, 2022, a Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CP) train was travelling westward on the Brooks Subdivision when 41 hopper cars loaded with grain derailed near Bassano, Alberta. Thirty-nine of the derailed cars were breached and spilled grain. There were no dangerous goods involved, and no fire was reported. No one was injured.

The investigation determined that the track structure in the vicinity of the derailment was in a deteriorated condition that reduced lateral stability and made it more susceptible to buckling. The derailment location had risk factors known to elevate the likelihood of a track buckle. Although work was done to mitigate the risk up to three years before the occurrence, persistent compressive forces in the rail had since built up. The elevated compressive forces in the track, along with the dynamic forces from the moving train, reduced the track’s lateral resistance and caused the track to shift out of alignment and buckle, leading to the derailment.

The factors associated with rapid deterioration of the track structure – the introduction of long, heavy unit trains and a significant increase in traffic volume in recent years, were identified in other TSB investigation reports to be a contributing factor in derailments. Inspection data gave clear indications that the track was vulnerable to compressive forces, yet they were not analyzed for trends or safety concerns. There is no documented evidence that CP’s safety management system (SMS) process was applied. Without proactive risk management of railway operations, including risk assessments, company SMS practices will remain ineffective at reducing main-track train derailments. Safety management is a Watchlist issue.

Following the occurrence, CP undertook track renewal work and made changes to railway maintenance procedures.

See the investigation page for more information.