Rail transportation safety recommendation R92-23

Transport Canada advised that they had assessed the adequacy of the requirements established in the Canadian Track Safety Rules and compared these requirements with the Track Safety Standards established by the US Federal Railroad Administration, as well as current US and Canadian railway industry rules While the standards enacted by Transport Canada are consistent with other US and industry standards, continuing research on track safety is being monitored by the Railway Safety Directorate for potential improvements.

The response indicates that TC has assessed the rules for consistency with other US and Canadian industry standards and advised that they will continue to monitor research into track safety However, TC does not elaborate on what research is being monitored or give any indication what the research has indicated to date, that will affect track safety rules and standards The response reveals little as to TC's planned action to correct the underlying safety deficiency TC has not been moved to any new commitment to resolving the underlying quality issues in rail testing as a result of this recommendation Therefore, the Board assessed the response as Unsatisfactory.

Transport Canada submitted an additional response advising that the railways have examined their current procedures and equipment for identifying rail defects on curved track and also evaluated the training and suitability of operators of rail test vehicles TC advises that these initiatives have improved reliability of detection of sizeable vertical split head (VSH) defects in track The railway industry has also increased the frequency of ultrasonic testing and has improved operator qualifications so they can better interpret indications.

This recommendation sought a reassessment of the adequacy of the Canadian railway requirements for main track rail testing, taking account the age of the rail and the nature of the traffic This additional response adds no new information with respect to specific research being conducted by TC in assessing this adequacy However, the underlying safety deficiency is being addressed by increasing the frequency of ultrasonic testing and provision of continuous evaluations of rail conditions for timely replacement Therefore the Board reassesses the response to this recommendation as Satisfactory in Part

After assessing the additional response from TC, the Board sent a letter of concern to the Minister of Transport, noting that the incidence of main track derailments due to track defects was not improving.

Transport Canada submitted an additional response in 2001 advising that TC's TDC initiated a study with the industry which has been completed regarding the development of a Mobile Inspection System for Rail Integrity (TP 13611E) The objective was to develop a rail test vehicle with an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) probe carriage designed for real-time testing of rails An inspection procedure was also developed coupled to the system hardware and software The resulting RailPro system can detect, locate and validate rail defects, thus helping to prevent catastrophic events and reduce maintenance time The results indicated that.

The system, together with inspection procedures, EMAT sensors and automated interpretation techniques, is an efficient and reliable inspection approach. The project was successful in addressing all the theoretical, mechanical, software and detectability problems.

Additional Response to R92-23 (June 2004)

Transport Canada submitted an additional response in 2004 advising that the Track Safety Rules, which became effective on September 23, 1992, include requirements with respect to the inspection of rail for internal defects, in Part II, FIV. These inspections requirements are based upon class of track, annual gross tonnage, whether or not its new rail, and if passenger trains operate on that track.

Additionally, the detector cars for internal defects have evolved and improved considerably since that time Research is continuing in the lab and in the field in order to improve detection results TC continues to play a role in this development through TDC.

TC recently obtained the complete results of CN and CP rail testing for the year 2003 which will be closely examined. This information will be evaluated for the number and types of defects, preventive measures to reduce or eliminate serious defects, as well as the adequacy of current TSR requirements.

More accurate laser technology has been introduced in rail testing However, problems between detection and timing of corrective action remain. As use of improved technology has commenced, but the outcome is not known, the Board maintains the assessment of response to this recommendation as Satisfactory in Part.