A safety investigation report has been released by the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board regarding a train accident that occurred on September 29, 2024. The VIA Rail Canada Inc. passenger train, P06431-29 (VIA 64), was traveling eastbound from Toronto to Montréal when it encountered an issue with the signal at Signal 722N.
The crew of two qualified locomotive engineers attempted to navigate the train through the intersection but were unable to confirm the color of the top light on the signal, leading to a series of events that ultimately resulted in the train coming to a stop just short of the signal. The investigation found that the crew's actions were affected by a combination of factors, including the design of the signal system and the presence of multiple cameras capturing the incident. The report highlights the importance of clear communication and proper training for rail crews in navigating complex intersections.
The investigation also notes that the use of on-board recordings, such as locomotive voice and video recorders (LVVRs), is crucial in identifying causes or contributing factors of accidents like this one. Despite the challenges posed by the design of the signal system and the presence of multiple cameras, the crew's actions were ultimately responsible for preventing a potentially catastrophic accident. The report concludes that while there were several contributing factors to the accident, the primary cause was the crew's failure to properly interpret the signals at Signal 722N.
The investigation also notes that the use of on-board recordings helped to identify this error and prevent it from occurring in the future. The report provides a detailed analysis of the incident and offers recommendations for improving rail safety in similar situations. The Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board has released several reports detailing the findings and recommendations of this investigation, which are available on their website.