RAIL STATISTICS - 2002

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TSB Statistical Summary Railway Occurrences 2002

Foreword

This document provides users of Canadian railway safety data with an annual summary of selected statistics on rail occurrences.

Users of these statistics are advised that, in a live database, the occurrence data are constantly being updated. Consequently, the statistics can change slightly over time. Further, as many occurrences are not formally investigated, information recorded on some occurrences may not have been verified. Therefore, caution should be used when utilizing these statistics. The 2002 statistics presented here reflect the TSB database updated as of 17 March 2003. This report contains statistics for federally regulated railways only. Provincial data reported to the TSB are not included in this report.

To enhance awareness and increase the safety value of the material presented in the TSB Statistical Summary, Railway Occurrences 2002, readers are encouraged to copy or reprint in whole, or in part, for further distribution of the data presented (with acknowledgement of the source).

The TSB is an independent agency operating under its own Act of Parliament. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety.

Comments on this document can be forwarded to the following address:

Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Information Strategies and Analysis Directorate
Place du Centre
200 Promenade du Portage
4^th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 1K8

Telephone: (819) 994-3741
Facsimile: (819) 997-2239
E-mail: communications@bst-tsb.gc.ca

© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada 2001
Cat. No. TU1-2/2002
ISBN 0-662-67228-3

ACCIDENTS

Overview of Accidents and Casualties (Tables 1 to 3)

In 2002, 985 rail accidents were reported to the TSB (Figure 1), a 7% decrease over 2001 and a 10% decrease over the 1997-2001 average of 1 089.

Figure 1. - Rail Accidents, 1993-2002[D]1

The largest proportion of reported rail accidents are non-main-track related. In 2002, these accounted for 47% of the total (Figure 2). Typically, most non-main-track accidents are minor, occurring during switching operations at speeds of less than 10 mph.

Main-track derailments and collisions accounted for 13% of all accidents in 2002, equivalent to last year.

In 2002, 26% of accidents involved vehicles or pedestrians at highway-rail crossings, a proportion that has remained relatively unchanged in the last five years.

Figure 2. - Rail Accidents by Type, 2002[D]2

In 2002, 224 accidents involved rolling stock or vehicles carrying (or having recently carried) dangerous goods, up from 205 in 2001 but down from the five-year average of 241. Of these, 80% were non-main-track accidents. Four accidents resulted in a dangerous goods release, compared to 5 last year and the five-year average of 7.

Rail accidents resulted in 96 fatalities in 2002, compared to 99 in 2001 and the five-year average of 100. All fatalities in 2002 involved trespassers or motor vehicle occupants or pedestrians in crossing accidents. Crossing-related fatalities totalled 46 (Figure 3), a 28% increase over the five-year average of 36. Trespassing fatalities totalled 50, a 17% decrease over the five-year average of 60.

Figure 3. - Fatalities by Type of Accident, 1993-2002[D]3

A total of 71 serious injuries resulted from rail occurrences in 2002 (Figure 4), down from 91 in 2001 and the five-year average of 87. This decrease over last year was due mainly to a decrease in employee and passenger injuries.Whereas there were 16 employee injuries and 7 passenger injuries in 2001, there were 8 and 0, respectively, in 2002.

Figure 4. - Serious Injuries by Type of Accident, 1993-2002[D]4

Freight trains accounted for 83% of trains involved in rail accidents in 2002, followed by single cars / cuts of cars and passenger trains with proportions of 7% and 6%, respectively. Three-quarters of accidents involving passenger trains either occurred at crossings or involved trespassers being struck by the train.

Accidents by Type (Tables 4a to 9)

Main-track accidents

There was an increase in main-track accidents (accidents that occur on main-track or spurs other than crossing and trespasser accidents) in 1994, reaching a peak of 328 in 1996 (Figure 5). Since 1998, the number of main-track accidents has been relatively constant, with an annual average of 227. Rail activity on main-track increased by 3% over last year, which resulted in a 17% decrease in the accident rate from 3.0 main-track accidents per million main-track train-miles in 2001 to 2.5 in 2002. An analysis of main-track accident rates using linear regression indicates there is no statistically significant trend¹ (p>.05) over the last 10 years.

Figure 5. - Main-Track Accidents and Accident Rates, 1993-2002[D]5

Main-track collisions and derailments are the most serious categories of rail accidents in terms of financial loss and potential risk to the public-ex. where passenger trains are involved or dangerous goods are released from trains that derail while travelling at high speeds in populated areas.

There were 8 main-track collisions in 2002, up one from 2001 (Figure 6) but slightly lower than the five-year average of 10. No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from main-track collisions in 2002.

A total of 117 main-track derailments were reported in 2002, an 8% and 9% decrease over last year and the five-year average, respectively. Half of main-track derailments in 2002 involved the derailment of 1 or 2 cars, while 19% involved the derailment of more than 10 cars, comparable to the five-year average of 18%.

No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from main-track derailments in 2002.

In 2002, 26 main-track derailments involved dangerous goods, up from 17 in 2001 but comparable to the five-year average of 25. Two of these resulted in a release of dangerous goods.

In 2001, 48% of factors assigned² to main-track derailments were equipment-related, primarily axles and wheels, compared to 39% last year and the five-year average of 36%. Track-related factors, mainly track geometry and rail, accounted for 31% of assigned factors, compared to 34% last year and the five-year average of 37%. Factors assigned to an accident are considered to have acted in combination to contribute to the occurrence.

Figure 6. - Main-Track Collisions and Derailments, 1993-2002[D]6

Non-main-track accidents

Non-main-track collisions totalled 112 in 2002, up from 86 in 2001 (Figure 7) and the five-year average of 105. This increase was most significant in Ontario with a total of 48, up from 28 in 2001 and the five-year average of 33. Derailments occurred in less than half of non-main-track collisions, 71% of which involved the derailment of 1 or 2 cars.

No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from non-main-track collisions in 2002.

Dangerous goods were involved in 43% of non-main-track collisions, none of which resulted in a release of product.

Factors assigned to non-main-track collisions are primarily rules-related (95%)-ex. non-compliance with prescribed procedures. Failure to protect, such as improper positioning of movements and handling of switches, were assigned most often.

There were 347 non-main-track derailments in 2002, down 10% from last year (Figure 7) and 8% from the five-year average of 377. Sixty-three percent of these accidents involved the derailment of 1 or 2 cars.

No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from non-main-track derailments in 2002.

Figure 7. - Non-Main-Track Collisions and Derailments, 1993-2002[D]7

Crossing accidents

Crossing accidents represent one of the most serious types of rail accidents in terms of casualties. Typically, 25% result in either serious or fatal injuries. In 2002, this proportion reached a 10-year high of 30%. Although crossing accidents do not usually result in substantial damage to railway property or equipment, the motor vehicles involved are usually heavily damaged or destroyed.

Crossing accidents totalled 261 in 2002, down from 278 in 2001 and the five-year average of 281. This decrease over last year was due primarily to a decrease in accidents at automated crossings with flashing lights and bells and at private crossings, from 101 to 89 and from 48 to 31, respectively. The proportion of accidents at public passive crossings (37%) represents an increase from the 2001 proportion (28%) and the average proportion over the last five years (33%) (Figure 8). Although there are more than twice as many public passive crossings as public automated ones, nearly half of accidents occurred at automated crossings due in part to higher vehicle and train traffic volumes at these crossings.

Typically, 13% of crossing accidents involving vehicles are fatal; this proportion reaches 55% when a pedestrian is involved. In 2002, 18 crossing accidents involved pedestrians, up from 10 in 2001 and the five-year average of 11, con-tributing to an increase in fatal crossing accidents in 2002 (41, compared to 35 in 2001 and the five-year average of 33).

Failing to stop was the most common motor vehicle driver behaviour contributing to crossing accidents (78%), followed by vehicles stopped, stalled or stuck on the track (9%). Accidents involving abandoned vehicles accounted for 6% of crossing accidents.

Figure 8. - Crossing Accidents by Type of Crossing, 2002[D]8

Crossing accidents were equal to, or lower than, respective five-year averages in all provinces but Manitoba (Figure 9).

In 2002, Quebec and Alberta showed an increase in crossing-related fatalities, from 4 to 9 and 5 to 10, respectively. This was a 10-year high in Alberta.

Figure 9. - Crossing Accidents by Province[D]9

Trespasser accidents

Trespasser accidents involve persons, primarily pedestrians, not authorized to be on railway rights-of-way and who are struck by rolling stock other than at railway crossings. They totalled 73 in 2002, down 8% from 2001 and 15% from the five-year average of 86, due mainly to a decrease in accidents in British Columbia and Alberta.

Over three-quarters of trespasser accidents occurred in Ontario and Quebec, accounting for 59% and 18% of accidents, respectively (Figure 10). While the number of trespasser accidents in Quebec has decreased over the last 10 years, from an average of 20 to 13 in 2002, the number of accidents in Ontario has remained practically unchanged, averaging 44 per year.

In the last five years, virtually all trespasser accidents resulted in casualties, that is, 70% in fatalities and 29% in serious injuries.

Figure 10. - Trespasser Accidents by Province[D]10

INCIDENTS

Overview of Incidents (Tables 10 and 11)

In 2002, reported rail incidents reached a 20-year low of 303, down from 322 in 2001 and the 1997-2001 average of 373.

Statistical analysis using linear regression indicates there has been a significant downward trend (p<.01)³ of reported railway incidents over the last 10 years (Figure 11), due mainly to the large decrease in the number of reported dangerous goods leaker incidents.

Figure 11. - Rail Incidents, 1993-2002[D]11

A dangerous good leakage is the unintentional release of a hazardous material while in transportation and does not involve an accident. The vast majority of these incidents involve small quantities of products. There were 167 dangerous good leaker incidents in 2002, accounting for 55% of reported incidents. This total represents a 14% and 24% decrease from 2001 and the five-year average, respectively (Figure 12). The number of incidents where the movement exceeded the limit of authority, representing 31% of incidents reported in 2002, is unchanged from the 2001 total of 94 but lower than the five-year average of 104.

Factors assigned to non-dangerous goods incidents were primarily operational or rules-related (75%), the most frequent involving a lapse of authority or a failure to protect.

Figure 12. - Reportable Rail Incidents by Type[D]12

Table 1 - Railway Occurrences¹ and Casualties 1993-2002

	1993			1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Accidents
Main-Track Train Collisions	5			11	15	13	12	14	10	9	7	8
Main-Track Train Derailments	124			157	151	188	172	108	119	121	127	117
Crossing Accidents	379			391	379	365	307	273	283	263	278	261
Non-Main-Track Train Collisions	106			118	116	122	113	114	100	113	86	112
Non-Main-Track Train Derailments	255			365	417	362	322	388	403	387	385	347
Collisions / Derailments Involving Track Units	15			13	14	22	19	13	27	16	18	11
Employee / Passenger Accidents	7			7	6	6	6	10	13	13	8	8
Trespasser Accidents	103			99	112	127	98	78	95	79	79	73
Fires / Explosions	14			27	39	61	44	51	53	32	36	24
Other	17			25	27	39	23	26	26	31	36	24
Total	1 025			1 213	1 276	1 305	1 116	1 075	1 129	1 064	1 060	985
Reportable Incidents
Dangerous Goods Leaker		363		332	352	330	285	272	167	188	194	167
Main-Track Switch in Abnormal Position		12		24	15	8	12	14	15	17	9	9
Movement Exceeds Limits of Authority		60		90	101	71	104	107	115	102	94	94
Runaway Rolling Stock		9		14	11	18	16	20	15	9	10	19
Other		15		40	23	36	26	25	21	14	15	14
Total		459		500	502	463	443	438	333	330	322	303
Million Main-Track Train-miles (MMTTM)2		76.4		82.5	78.4	76.0	79.5	79	78.8	80.1	79.9	82.5
Main-Track Accidents3 / MMTTM		2.5		3.1	3.6	4.3	3.7	2.9	3.1	2.8	3.0	2.5
Accidents Involving Dangerous Goods
Main-Track Train Derailments		30		33	35	51	32	25	19	30	17	26
Crossing Accidents		8		9	7	9	4	8	8	12	7	7
Non-Main-Track Train Collisions		91		72	62	85	61	56	48	50	40	48
Non-Main-Track Train Derailments		182		202	190	190	172	136	133	149	128	130
Other		15		17	14	33	18	15	16	8	13	13
Total		326		333	308	368	287	240	224	249	205	224
Accidents with a Dangerous Goods Release		6		7	5	15	8	5	9	7	5	4
Fatalities
Crossing Accidents		56		54	53	46	32	39	37	33	41	46
Trespasser Accidents		58		56	64	67	69	61	62	53	56	50
Other		2		2	4	4	8	1	7	1	2	0
Total		116		112	121	117	109	101	106	87	99	96
Serious Injuries
Crossing Accidents		80		64	75	69	60	43	44	33	47	42
Trespasser Accidents		37		28	41	45	30	17	34	23	22	21
Other		12		31	16	15	12	15	20	11	22	8
Total		129		123	132	129	102	75	98	67	91	71

1.  For federally regulated railways only.

2.  2002 main-track train-miles are estimated. (Source: Railways' annual reports submitted to Transport Canada)

3.  Accidents that occurred on main-track or spurs, excluding crossing and trespasser accidents.

Table 2 - Fatalities and Serious Injuries by Type of Occurrence and Person Type 1993-2002

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Main-Track Train Collisions
Fatalities	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0
Serious Injuries	0	1	4	1	0	2	0	0	0	0
Main-Track Train Derailments
Fatalities	0	0	2	0	3	0	4	0	0	0
Serious Injuries	2	2	0	0	5	0	6	1	9	0
Crossing Accidents
Fatalities	56	54	53	46	32	39	37	33	41	46
Serious Injuries	80	64	75	69	60	43	44	33	47	42
Non-Main-Track Train Collisions
Fatalities	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
Serious Injuries	0	1	2	3	1	0	2	0	0	0
Non-Main-Track Train Derailments
Fatalities	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
Serious Injuries	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Coll. / Derail. Involving Track Units
Fatalities	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
Serious Injuries	3	4	4	4	0	3	0	1	0	0
Employee / Passenger Accidents
Fatalities	2	2	0	0	2	1	3	1	0	0
Serious Injuries	5	5	6	6	4	10	10	8	8	6
Trespasser Accidents
Fatalities	58	56	64	67	69	61	62	53	56	50
Serious Injuries	37	28	41	45	30	17	34	23	22	21
Fires / Other
Fatalities	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Serious Injuries	1	16	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	0
Dangerous Goods
Fatalities	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Serious Injuries	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Other Incidents
Fatalities	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Serious Injuries	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	1	3	2
Fatalities by Person Type
Employees	2	1	5	3	7	0	3	1	2	0
Passengers	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
Pedestrians	6	8	8	8	7	8	7	8	6	10
Vehicle Occupants	50	45	45	38	24	31	30	28	34	38
Trespassers	58	56	63	67	69	61	61	50	56	48
Other Persons	0	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1	0
Total	116	112	121	117	109	101	102	87	99	96
Serious Injuries by Person Type
Employees	11	16	15	14	7	11	14	9	16	8
Passengers	2	16	0	3	5	3	3	1	7	0
Pedestrians	2	3	7	3	2	4	5	7	5	6
Vehicle Occupants	77	58	70	63	58	39	38	27	42	36
Trespassers	37	29	39	45	29	16	32	21	20	21
Other Persons	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	0
Total	129	123	131	128	102	74	92	66	91	71

Table 3 - Rail Accidents by Train Type¹ 1993-2002

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Freight Train
Main-Track Train Collisions	4	10	24	19	11	19	15	13	9	19
Main-Track Train Derailments	118	149	140	178	164	106	111	114	120	116
Non-Main-Track Train Collisions	110	131	111	144	150	141	132	125	105	133
Non-Main-Track Train Derailments	230	342	372	330	306	351	367	325	346	319
Crossing	306	340	333	309	267	239	241	225	243	234
Trespasser	77	76	82	93	73	52	70	49	56	44
Other	30	50	46	80	63	70	82	64	59	47
Total	875	1 098	1 108	1 153	1 034	978	1 018	915	938	912
Passenger Train
Main-Track Train Collisions	4	2	0	0	4	3	2	1	1	0
Main-Track Train Derailments	5	7	7	5	4	1	9	3	5	0
Non-Main-Track Train Collisions	1	0	0	2	1	4	0	0	0	0
Non-Main-Track Train Derailments	1	3	1	4	1	4	3	4	8	7
Crossing	38	37	27	40	30	29	32	18	26	23
Trespasser	25	20	24	29	24	25	23	28	23	29
Other	9	10	17	12	5	9	8	11	13	8
Total	83	79	76	92	69	75	77	65	76	67
Track Unit
Main-Track Train Collisions	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Main-Track Train Derailments	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Non-Main-Track Train Collisions	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Non-Main-Track Train Derailments	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
Crossing	8	7	3	5	5	2	7	4	5	1
Trespasser	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Other	18	15	23	33	22	24	40	28	29	16
Total	27	22	27	38	27	27	49	32	35	17
Single Car / Cut of Cars
Main-Track Train Collisions	2	3	4	6	4	6	0	0	0	0
Main-Track Train Derailments	0	1	2	1	1	0	3	1	1	2
Non-Main-Track Train Collisions	71	87	98	80	41	39	42	56	35	51
Non-Main-Track Train Derailments	19	11	38	23	15	21	20	17	23	22
Crossing	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Trespasser	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0
Other	5	7	13	19	15	9	8	6	10	5
Total	97	109	156	130	76	75	74	81	69	81
Other
Main-Track Train Collisions	0	4	1	0	0	2	0	1	0	0
Main-Track Train Derailments	1	1	2	4	4	1	3	4	1	2
Non-Main-Track Train Collisions	5	8	13	5	4	12	3	21	4	7
Non-Main-Track Train Derailments	7	10	14	11	10	21	17	42	14	7
Crossing	27	9	17	11	5	3	6	11	4	3
Trespasser	1	3	4	4	0	1	0	1	0	0
Other	5	0	5	6	4	1	5	5	1	0
Total	46	35	56	41	27	41	34	85	24	19

1.  Because some accidents may involve more than one train, the number of trains involved may differ from the total number of accidents.

Table 4a - Main-Track Train Derailments 1993-2002

By Province
	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Newfoundland & Labrador	1	1	0	3	1	1	0	2	3	1
Nova Scotia	2	2	0	3	0	1	3	2	2	1
New Brunswick	3	5	5	3	3	0	0	2	3	0
Quebec	22	19	24	24	25	21	22	14	19	23
Ontario	35	58	47	55	49	37	30	28	33	35
Manitoba	13	15	17	14	22	12	11	17	14	11
Saskatchewan	17	15	17	24	20	7	10	14	12	10
Alberta	10	23	16	29	18	15	16	15	17	17
British Columbia	21	19	25	33	34	14	26	27	24	19
Northwest Territories	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Canada	124	157	151	188	172	108	119	121	127	117
Derailments per MMTTM1	1.62	1.90	1.93	2.47	2.16	1.37	1.51	1.51	1.59	1.42
Derailments per BGTM2	0.42	0.46	0.46	0.58	0.49	0.32	0.34	0.32	0.33
By Total Number of Derailed Cars per Accident
Derailed Cars
1	53	64	67	77	71	43	50	43	51	44
2	14	23	21	16	20	20	14	10	15	14
3	7	9	15	10	5	3	8	11	8	4
4	2	6	1	11	5	8	5	6	9	7
5-10	29	26	24	33	37	18	24	24	22	26
>10	19	29	23	41	34	16	18	27	22	22
Total	124	157	151	188	172	108	119	121	127	117

1.  MMTTM - Million main-track train-miles (Source: Transport Canada)

2.  BGTM - Billion gross ton-miles; 2002 data not yet available (Source: Railway Association of Canada)

Table 4b - Main-Track Train Derailments by Assigned Factors¹ 1993-2002

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Environmental	12	12	13	21	11	4	10	0	5	1
Equipment - Total	66	74	66	80	69	43	40	50	46	43
Axle	21	23	26	25	16	9	15	20	16	14
Brakes	8	6	2	9	10	6	2	7	5	8
Draft System	7	2	4	9	5	4	7	8	6	2
Superstructure	8	8	6	7	9	5	2	7	6	6
Truck	6	12	11	10	15	12	8	1	3	5
Wheel	16	23	17	20	14	7	6	7	10	8
Track - Total	59	91	86	70	67	49	54	46	40	28
Geometry	36	44	42	29	38	31	31	20	15	14
Object on Track	2	0	0	1	3	1	1	2	3	1
Other Track Material	2	6	8	6	3	4	5	3	5	2
Rail	17	26	26	21	11	9	9	19	7	7
Roadbed	0	5	3	7	9	3	6	0	5	0
Switch	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	1
Turnouts	2	10	7	6	3	1	2	0	2	3
Actions - Total	32	53	37	41	50	45	23	20	27	17
Failure to Protect	5	9	6	2	10	4	6	6	4	3
Failure to Secure	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
Failure to Use Equipment Properly	5	10	6	8	7	10	7	5	9	10
Improper Loading / Lifting	2	2	1	1	3	1	1	1	1	1
Improper Placement / Position for Task	3	3	1	2	2	4	2	5	2	1
Inadequate / Inappropriate Maintenance of Equipment	12	20	12	16	19	20	3	1	4	1
Operating at Improper Speed	5	3	9	6	7	5	1	1	5	1
Vandalism	0	4	1	4	0	0	2	0	1	0
Other	0	1	0	2	1	1	1	1	0	0
Total	169	230	202	212	197	141	127	116	118	89

1.  The TSB does not investigate all occurrences; therefore, assigned factors may not represent TSB findings. More than one factor may be assigned to each occurrence.

Table 5a - Non-Main-Track Train Collisions 1993-2002

By Province
	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Newfoundland & Labrador	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nova Scotia	0	0	1	1	2	0	0	1	0	0
New Brunswick	3	6	1	2	7	0	1	1	2	1
Quebec	24	21	15	26	22	20	19	14	14	15
Ontario	34	29	36	37	30	36	31	42	28	48
Manitoba	12	16	10	17	7	10	13	11	11	11
Saskatchewan	4	11	8	7	8	7	6	4	4	5
Alberta	18	22	26	20	19	31	19	26	15	17
British Columbia	11	13	19	12	18	10	11	14	12	15
Northwest Territories	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Canada	106	118	116	122	113	114	100	113	86	112
By Total Number of Derailed Cars per Accident
Derailed Cars
01	69	66	71	60	50	54	49	55	43	60
1	15	19	19	29	26	35	23	25	22	21
2	9	17	7	14	20	11	13	19	10	16
3	2	5	7	7	4	5	7	7	5	8
4	4	7	7	5	4	2	1	2	3	3
5-10	6	4	5	6	8	7	6	4	3	2
>10	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	0	2
Total	106	118	116	122	113	114	100	113	86	112

1.  Number of collisions with no derailment.

Table 5b - Non-Main-Track Train Collisions by Assigned Factors¹ 1993-2002

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Environmental	3	2	1	2	0	1	2	1	1	3
Equipment - Total	5	5	5	1	1	0	4	1	2	1
Brakes	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	1	0
Draft System	2	4	4	0	1	0	2	1	1	1
Superstructure	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Wheel	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Track - Total	5	3	1	1	0	1	4	3	1	0
Appurtenances	3	2	1	1	0	1	2	1	1	0
Geometry	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Other	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0
Actions - Total	110	116	133	128	125	117	63	85	71	75
Failure to Protect	40	49	66	71	74	67	35	43	46	53
Failure to Secure	30	22	22	23	19	29	11	24	19	14
Failure to Use Equipment Properly	23	22	21	23	12	12	5	7	3	5
Improper Placement / Position for Task	5	4	7	0	1	4	2	1	0	0
Inadequate / Inappropriate Communications	4	6	5	2	3	2	4	2	1	0
Inadequate / Inappropriate Maintenanceof Equipment	1	2	2	0	0	3	1	0	0	0
Operating at Improper Speed	4	7	8	8	14	0	4	5	1	1
Vandalism	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2
Other	3	2	2	1	1	0	1	3	1	0
Total	123	126	140	132	126	119	73	90	75	79

1.  The TSB does not investigate all occurrences; therefore, assigned factors may not represent TSB findings. More than one factor may be assigned to each occurrence.

Table 6a - Non-Main-Track Train Derailments 1993-2002

By Province
	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Newfoundland & Labrador	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	0
Nova Scotia	7	4	2	6	3	2	3	2	5	6
New Brunswick	15	28	16	20	16	11	15	7	15	19
Quebec	49	95	90	62	61	78	74	69	65	53
Ontario	88	115	139	116	102	118	117	108	138	127
Manitoba	28	43	57	61	31	42	37	38	27	17
Saskatchewan	16	25	28	24	21	34	32	26	30	19
Alberta	26	28	44	38	52	64	64	88	50	67
British Columbia	25	27	40	34	36	38	61	48	55	38
Northwest Territories	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Canada	255	365	417	362	322	388	403	387	385	347
By Total Number of Derailed Cars per Accident
Derailed Cars
1	129	181	196	173	128	152	175	177	188	137
2	53	71	98	80	79	101	93	93	80	82
3	21	38	51	38	40	52	44	37	49	44
4	14	24	21	28	27	27	34	22	28	26
5-10	35	44	42	39	39	47	54	53	38	52
>10	3	7	9	4	9	9	3	5	2	6
Total	255	365	417	362	322	388	403	387	385	347

Table 6b - Non-Main-Track Train Derailments by Assigned Factors¹ 1993-2002

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Environmenta	26	33	35	43	30	12	15	5	19	9
Equipment - Total	22	26	29	32	16	27	40	25	26	25
Axle	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	1	0
Brakes	2	5	1	4	3	5	5	7	6	7
Draft System	4	4	7	2	0	2	11	5	2	6
Superstructure	2	2	5	4	2	5	1	2	5	5
Truck	1	2	4	4	4	3	12	1	4	3
Wheel	13	13	12	18	6	12	11	8	8	4
Track - Total	102	160	169	145	138	192	161	154	145	108
Appurtenances	0	2	1	2	2	0	1	1	0	3
Geometry	44	49	58	54	67	73	60	62	48	25
Rail	3	15	17	12	11	22	21	17	14	12
Roadbed	10	14	17	13	8	4	5	4	5	2
Other Track Material	12	25	37	28	16	37	14	24	29	20
Turnouts	31	48	33	35	33	53	55	26	31	42
Object on Track	2	7	6	1	1	3	5	5	10	1
Switch	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	8	2
Other	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Actions - Total	170	215	264	216	191	238	159	181	138	118
Failure to Protect	68	100	122	95	99	107	96	111	83	62
Failure to Secure	12	11	18	17	9	12	4	10	11	8
Failure to Use Equipment Properly	35	41	50	42	35	35	18	17	15	26
Improper Loading / Lifting	0	1	0	0	2	1	1	13	2	1
Improper Placement / Position for Task	7	11	6	1	6	8	2	9	5	0
Inadequate / Inappropriate Communication	5	1	10	4	1	1	1	2	1	1
Inadequate / Inappropriate Maintenanceof Equipment	29	35	33	36	28	56	17	6	10	10
Operating at Improper Speed	5	7	6	9	3	2	5	7	4	2
Vandalism	8	8	19	12	7	15	12	6	6	7
Other	1	0	0	0	1	1	3	0	1	1
Total	320	434	497	436	375	469	375	365	328	260

1.  The TSB does not investigate all occurrences; therefore, assigned factors may not represent TSB findings. More than one factor may be assigned to each occurrence.

Table 7 - Crossing Accidents and Casualties by Type of Crossing and Protection 1993-2002

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Accidents
Public Crossings1
Total Passive Warnings (13 713)	156	154	136	140	109	95	98	84	77	96
Flashing Lights & Bells(4 353)	130	141	136	136	113	96	91	95	101	89
Gates(1 876)	27	31	44	32	32	34	35	42	43	40
Other Automated Warnings(31)	1	1	0	0	1	2	0	2	1	0
Total Automated Warnings (6 260)	158	173	180	168	146	132	126	139	145	129
Sub-total (19 973)	314	327	316	308	255	227	224	223	222	225
Private Crossings	56	49	56	50	48	41	49	37	48	31
Farm Crossings	9	15	7	7	4	5	10	3	8	5
Total	379	391	379	365	307	273	283	263	278	261
Fatal Accidents	40	45	39	39	30	38	32	30	35	41
Fatalities
Public Crossings
Total Passive Warnings	29	21	17	14	10	14	20	10	14	16
Flashing Lights & Bells	19	20	26	18	11	11	5	12	11	14
Gates	4	7	7	9	8	9	9	10	10	13
Other Automated Warnings	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total Automated Warnings	23	27	33	27	19	20	14	22	21	27
Sub-total	52	48	50	41	29	34	34	32	35	43
Private Crossings	3	2	3	5	1	5	3	1	5	3
Farm Crossings	1	4	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	0
Total	56	54	53	46	32	39	37	33	41	46
Serious Injuries
Public Crossings
Total Passive Warnings	33	22	27	31	21	16	13	6	12	18
Flashing Lights & Bells	28	34	32	24	30	16	20	16	20	13
Gates	7	4	10	10	5	5	6	7	6	6
Other Automated Warnings	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total Automated Warnings	35	38	42	34	35	21	26	23	26	19
Sub-total	68	60	69	60	56	37	39	29	38	37
Private Crossings	10	2	4	3	3	5	5	3	7	5
Farm Crossings	2	2	2	1	1	1	0	1	2	0
Total	80	64	75	69	60	43	44	33	47	42

1.  Figures in parentheses denote the number of public grade crossings for federally regulated railways in Canada by warning type as of February 2003.(There are approximately 28 500 private and farm crossings in Canada.) (Source: Transport Canada)

Table 8 - Crossing Accidents and Related Casualties by Province 1993-2002

		1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Accidents1
Newfoundland & Labrador	(7)	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nova Scotia	(154)	9	6	4	7	5	3	7	3	10	1
New Brunswick	(253)	14	12	12	6	5	2	5	2	8	2
Quebec	(1 573)	58	78	58	61	51	48	51	44	43	44
Ontario	(4 870)	117	108	121	91	75	65	94	88	80	77
Manitoba	(2 679)	34	29	33	46	30	34	19	21	25	36
Saskatchewan	(5 870)	36	42	44	49	33	38	30	32	29	24
Alberta	(3 704)	65	71	66	71	70	54	52	45	54	55
British Columbia	(855)	45	45	40	33	38	29	24	28	28	22
Northwest Territories	(7)	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
Canada	(19 973)	379	391	379	365	307	273	283	263	278	261
Crossing Accidents per MMTTM2		4.41	4.36	4.55	4.51	3.43	3.27	3.17	2.90	3.07	2.86
Crossing Accidents with Derailment		6	10	6	6	5	5	8	8	12	9
Fatalities
Newfoundland & Labrador		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nova Scotia		0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	2	0
New Brunswick		3	1	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0
Quebec		9	7	11	6	7	7	6	8	4	9
Ontario		24	22	14	19	10	14	20	12	17	15
Manitoba		5	2	4	1	2	7	2	2	3	5
Saskatchewan		3	7	14	5	1	5	1	5	8	3
Alberta		8	8	8	5	6	4	5	3	5	10
British Columbia		4	7	1	8	4	2	3	2	2	4
Northwest Territories		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Canada		56	54	53	46	32	39	37	33	41	46
Serious Injuries
Newfoundland & Labrador		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nova Scotia		0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0
New Brunswick		4	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	2	1
Quebec		11	9	15	13	10	7	4	6	4	6
Ontario		31	25	26	13	11	7	18	7	15	14
Manitoba		6	4	3	13	5	6	3	4	3	3
Saskatchewan		10	4	13	8	6	6	7	3	5	4
Alberta		12	17	14	16	19	13	11	8	13	12
British Columbia		6	4	3	4	6	3	1	5	4	2
Northwest Territories		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Canada		80	64	75	69	60	43	44	33	47	42

1.  Figures in parentheses denote the estimated number of public crossings for federally regulated railways in each province as of February 2003. (Source: Transport Canada)

2.  Includes crossing accidents on main track or on spurs per million main-track train-miles (MMTTM). (Source: Transport Canada)

Table 9 - Trespasser Accidents and Related Casualties by Province 1993-2002

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Accidents
Newfoundland & Labrador	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nova Scotia	3	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	0
New Brunswick	4	0	6	3	0	0	0	1	0	2
Quebec	19	27	27	32	15	12	26	14	10	13
Ontario	45	40	41	55	47	36	46	41	42	43
Manitoba	3	7	13	1	4	4	1	1	7	3
Saskatchewan	8	3	3	3	4	2	3	2	3	0
Alberta	6	12	13	8	7	10	10	6	9	3
British Columbia	15	9	9	21	21	14	9	14	7	9
Northwest Territories	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Canada	103	99	112	127	98	78	95	79	79	73
Fatal Accidents	56	54	63	67	69	59	61	53	56	50
Fatalities
Newfoundland & Labrador	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nova Scotia	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
New Brunswick	4	0	6	2	0	0	0	1	0	2
Quebec	13	12	16	14	10	11	19	10	9	9
Ontario	27	30	26	35	34	30	31	29	29	33
Manitoba	1	2	5	0	3	3	0	0	2	1
Saskatchewan	1	3	2	1	2	1	1	1	3	0
Alberta	3	4	7	2	3	8	7	4	7	1
British Columbia	8	4	2	11	17	8	4	8	5	4
Northwest Territories	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Canada	58	56	64	67	69	61	62	53	56	50
Serious Injuries
Newfoundland & Labrador	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nova Scotia	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
New Brunswick	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Quebec	4	9	10	10	5	1	7	3	1	3
Ontario	15	7	13	15	13	8	16	9	12	9
Manitoba	2	4	5	1	1	0	1	1	5	2
Saskatchewan	7	0	1	2	3	1	2	1	0	0
Alberta	3	6	6	4	4	2	3	5	2	2
British Columbia	5	2	6	11	4	5	5	4	2	5
Northwest Territories	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Canada	37	28	41	45	30	17	34	23	22	21

Table 10 - Reportable Incidents by Type and Assigned Factor 1993-2002

	1993		1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Incidents
Dangerous Goods Leaker	363		332	352	330	285	272	167	188	194	167
Main-Track Switch in Abnormal Position	12		24	15	8	12	14	15	17	9	9
Movement Exceeds Limits of Authority	60		90	101	71	104	107	115	102	94	94
Runaway Rolling Stock	9		14	11	18	16	20	15	9	10	19
Signal Less Restrictive than Required	8		10	0	4	1	9	8	2	7	3
Unprotected Overlap of Authorities	7		30	22	32	24	16	11	11	4	5
Crew Member Incapacitated	0		0	1	0	1	0	2	1	4	6
Total	459		500	502	463	443	438	333	330	322	303
Assigned Factors1
Equipment	4		4	0	3	0	5	4	1	4	2
Individual / Personal	58		111	114	86	107	108	108	57	35	26
Track	5		10	4	4	2	6	3	3	5	2
Actions	86		151	147	124	159	174	110	134	112	89
Failure to Protect	13		18	14	7	12	14	34	44	42	29
Failure to Secure	3		11	8	11	9	11	16	11	6	9
Failure to Use Equipment Properly	1		2	1	3	0	8	2	7	1	3
Inadequate / Inappropriate Communication	2		2	2	5	6	16	4	8	6	3
Overlap of Authorities	66		111	115	92	120	113	40	56	49	41
Vandalism	0		5	4	4	9	6	1	2	5	1
Other	1		2	3	2	3	6	13	6	3	3
Total	153		276	265	217	268	293	225	195	156	119

1. The TSB does not investigate all occurrences; therefore, assigned factors may not represent TSB findings. More than one factor may be assigned to each occurrence. For non-dangerous goods incidents only.

Table 11 - Dangerous Goods Leaker Incidents by Province and Leak Location / Component 1993-2002

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Incidents
Newfoundland & Labrador	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nova Scotia	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
New Brunswick	19	17	4	2	9	10	8	3	5	6
Quebec	22	32	40	60	50	25	14	12	8	8
Ontario	131	115	119	110	100	89	65	59	74	65
Manitoba	20	19	31	10	6	9	11	24	8	9
Saskatchewan	3	13	10	8	13	10	4	2	8	4
Alberta	60	55	69	37	55	74	37	54	43	43
British Columbia	108	81	78	103	52	55	28	34	47	32
Northwest Territories	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Canada	363	332	352	330	285	272	167	188	194	167
Leak by Location / Component1
Structural	8	8	6	4	2	1	3	2	0	4
Safety Appurtenances	75	59	81	85	82	66	19	37	25	30
Operating Appurtenances	167	173	165	184	177	148	107	105	110	79
Auxiliary Appurtenances	54	35	48	41	31	46	32	28	34	24
Other	56	55	50	13	14	19	11	14	19	7
Total	360	330	350	327	306	280	172	186	188	144

1. More than one leak location / component may be assigned to each occurrence.

APPENDIX A - DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply to railway occurrences that are required to be reported pursuant to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and the associated regulations.

Dangerous Goods Involvement

An accident is considered to have dangerous goods involvement if any car in the consist carrying (or having last contained) a dangerous good derails, strikes or is struck by any other rolling stock or object. It does not mean that there was any release of any product. Also included are crossing accidents in which the motor vehicle involved (ex. tanker truck) is carrying a dangerous good.

Railway Occurrence

1. Any accident or incident associated with the operation of rolling stock on a railway, and
2. Any situation or condition that the Board has reasonable grounds to believe could, if left unattended, induce an accident or incident described in paragraph (a) above.

Reportable Railway Accident

An accident resulting directly from the operation of rolling stock, where

1. a person sustains a serious injury or is killed as a result of
   1. being on board or getting off the rolling stock, or
   2. coming into contact with any part of the rolling stock or its contents, or
2. the rolling stock
   1. is involved in a grade-crossing collision,
   2. is involved in a collision or derailment and is carrying passengers,
   3. is involved in a collision or derailment and is carrying dangerous goods, or is known to have last contained dangerous goods the residue of which has not been purged from the rolling stock,
   4. sustains damage that affects its safe operation, or
   5. causes or sustains a fire or explosion, or causes damage to the railway, posing a threat to the safety of any person, property or the environment.

Reportable Railway Incident

An incident resulting directly from the operation of rolling stock, where

1. a risk of collision occurs;
2. an unprotected main-track switch is left in an abnormal position;
3. a railway signal displays a less restrictive indication than that required for the intended movement of rolling stock;
4. an unprotected overlap of operating authorities occurs;
5. a movement of rolling stock exceeds the limits of its authority;
6. there is runaway rolling stock;
7. any crew member whose duties are directly related to the safe operation of the rolling stock is unable to perform the crew member's duties as a result of a physical incapacitation that poses a threat to the safety of any person, property or the environment; or
8. any dangerous goods are released on board or from the rolling stock.

Serious Injury

An injury that is likely to require admission to a hospital.

APPENDIX B - EXPLANATORY NOTES

Accidents by Railway

Accident totals are not presented by railway. The track, train and personnel in an occurrence may all belong to different companies; also an occurrence may have several contributing factors. Presenting data based purely on one of these criteria or factors would be misleading, and misinterpretation of data by readers could unfairly affect a company's competitive position.

---

1.   It is agreed by convention that, for a result to be considered statistically significant, its probability must be lower than 1 in 20 (that is, p<.05).

2.   Factors assigned are conditions and / or acts that may have played a role in an occurrence.

3.   It is agreed by convention that, for a result to be considered statistically significant, its probability must be lower than 1 in 20 (that is, p<.05).