Several mechanical issues and track conditions are being blamed for a freight train derailment last year in the middle of Strathroy.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said on Tuesday that a wheel of one of the train cars on a westbound Canadian National (CN) freight train climbed the track, which led to the derailment of 13 cars near the Metcalfe Street West crossing on July 19, 2017.
"The investigation determined that there were [a total of six] 'non-condemnable' factors that contributed to wheel climb that led to the derailment, including a number of mechanical conditions on the first car to derail and various track conditions in the vicinity," the TSB said in a statement.
The train had a total of 128 cars and no one was hurt in the incident.
However, petro alkylate, an environmentally sensitive product used in the manufacturing and preparation of other products such as plastics, leaked from one of the overturned rail cars. One of the other derailed cars was carrying residue from liquefied petroleum gas, but none of that product was released, the TSB said.
The remaining derailed cars were either empty or contained cement, paper or soybeans.
Since the derailment, CN has purchased specialized tools and equipment for its MacMillan Yard facility, and is ensuring that the importance of inspecting train coupler and truck components is being discussed with mechanical staff during daily job briefings.
-With files from Miranda Chant
