Status of the investigation at 9 July 2013 og the Lac-Megantic derailment

The TSB is in the early stages of the field phase of the investigation. A team of 14 experts is on site gathering information, examining the accident site, interviewing company officials and witnesses, and talking with other partners on scene. There are many other TSB personnel supporting the team on the ground from Ottawa and Gatineau. The TSB’s investigation is independent of all other ongoing investigations. What we know Timeline

  At about 23:00 on 5 July 2013, the train stopped at Nantes, Quebec.
  At 23:50, the fire was reported to the rail traffic controller.
  An MMA employee arrived on site to assist the fire department.
  At about midnight, the engine was shut down, and the fire was extinguished.
  At approximately 00:56 on 6 July 2013, the train started to move, after the fire department and MMA had left.

Runaway train

  The train rolled down the approximately 1.2% grade into the centre of Lac-Mégantic.
  The train derailed at approximately 01:14 on 6 July 2013.
  The locomotives detached from the rest of the train.
  There were no signals or track circuits, so the rail traffic controller would have no indication of a runaway train.

Data from the train

We have the information from the locomotive event recorder and the sense and braking unit from the back of the train. We know in what position the controls were found following the accident. Investigation

This is a very complex investigation. We have had limited access to the site for safety reasons. We expect this situation to change soon.

Here are some of the elements we are still working on:

  The cause of the fire, and its role on the runaway train
  A number of operational issues, including the operation of the train, and the requirements and company policies regarding securement of trains (e.g., locked doors, adequate brakes)
  The packaging of dangerous goods, and their performance (e.g., class 111 tank cars in train accidents)
  Additional interviews
  Review of documented information, which we are waiting to receive
  Support the coroner’s efforts
  With other agencies, support the families, loved ones and survivors by keeping them informed
  Select components for further analysis at the TSB Engineering Laboratory in Ottawa.
  Start decoding the content of the locomotive event recorder as well as the sense and braking unit (commonly known as the black boxes).