TSB Recommendations re: Accident in Pincourt, Québec
Published: April 8th 2009
Source: The Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Read TSB final report R07D0111
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) releases its final investigation report (R07D0111) today into the crossing collision between a VIA Rail Canada Inc. (VIA) train and a tractor-trailer that occurred on December 17, 2007 in Pincourt/Terrasse-Vaudreuil, Quebec. In its report, the TSB found that the geometric characteristics of the crossing and the presence of snow banks played a role in the accident at this high-speed, high-density level crossing. The investigation also noted that the lack of conspicuous railway emergency contact information presents a risk to drivers who find themselves immobilized on level crossings.
The Board makes two recommendations to mitigate the risk of level crossing accidents in the high-density Québec-Windsor rail corridor.
 |
That Transport Canada
conduct safety assessments of level crossings on the
high-speed passenger rail Québec-Windsor corridor and ensure
that defences are adequate to mitigate the risk of
truck/train collisions. R09-01 |
|
|
That Transport Canada
implement standards to improve the visibility of
emergency contact signage at railway crossings in
Canada. R09-02 |
On the afternoon of December 17, 2007, VIA
passenger train No. 35, travelling westward
at 62 mph on the south main track of
Canadian National's Kingston Subdivision,
struck an empty tractor-trailer that was
immobilized on the 3e Avenue
level public crossing, near Pincourt/Terrasse-Vaudreuil,
Quebec. The tractor-trailer was destroyed;
the locomotive was damaged and was unable to
continue. Subsequently, 76 passengers were
transferred to another VIA train and rail
traffic was delayed for up to 3 ½ hours. The
truck driver sustained minor injuries. There
was no derailment and no track damage. Since
1997, there have been three accidents at the
3e Avenue crossing in which
northbound tractor-trailers have become
immobilized and were struck by VIA trains.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation 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.
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