News release

Today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its investigation (R23D0108) into the November 21, 2023 collision between a Canadian National Railway (CN) train and an exo commuter train at the St-Léonard-Montréal-Nord station in Montréal, Quebec. The investigation found that the CN train crew had passed a Restricting signal requiring them to limit their speed and be prepared to stop. However, believing the track ahead was clear, the train was accelerated. By the time the stationary commuter train became visible, it was too late to avoid the collision and subsequent derailment.

A longstanding safety gap

For nearly 25 years, the TSB has called for the adoption of physical fail-safe train controls that can automatically slow or stop trains when crews miss or misinterpret signal indications. In 2022, following our issuance of Recommendation R22-04, Transport Canada announced plans to require these systems on the highest-risk corridors; however, progress has since stalled, and critical steps such as corridor risk assessments remain incomplete. In light of recent occurrences of crews not following signal indications, the TSB is reiterating this recommendation today.

Full implementation is still years away due to the complexity of the process. More concerning is the absence of interim safety measures while enhanced systems are being explored. Without backup protections to account for human performance, trains—including those carrying passengers and dangerous goods—remain at risk of collisions or derailments.

That is why the Board is issuing a new recommendation, for:

“This collision is a stark reminder that relying solely on human performance leaves Canada’s railways vulnerable,” said Yoan Marier, Chair of the TSB. “While permanent fail-safe defences are still years away, interim protections can and must be implemented now to safeguard passengers, crews, and communities.”

See the investigation page for more information.