The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) revealed concerning findings about the CN freight train derailment in Repentigny this month. They discovered multiple issues with the tracks, including missing or shifted rail anchors that could have contributed to the incident.
Rail anchors, crucial devices that secure the rails together, were found to be absent or misplaced along certain sections of the tracks. This oversight may have destabilized the track and increased the risk of derailment due to potential track buckling, as explained by Vincezo De Angelis, the TSB’s director of investigations for rail and pipeline.
Notably, the investigation pinpointed locations between Mile 118 and Mile 121 where rail anchors were missing or displaced, alongside skewed ties that were no longer perpendicular to the rails. Photos released by the TSB displayed friction marks on the rails, indicating suspicious movement.
Following the incident, the CN freight train engaged its emergency brake after passing a railway crossing in Repentigny. Subsequently, the train crew discovered several cars derailed near residential areas adjacent to the tracks. Fortunately, no injuries occurred, and there was no hazardous material release.
The investigation into this derailment is currently ongoing, with authorities working to determine the full extent of the factors that led to the incident.
