Lac-Mégantic recommendations on DOT-111 tanker cars followed, says TSB
Canada's Transportation Safety Board has issued positive grades to the federal government for its response to recommendations made following last July’s train derailment and explosion in Lac-Mégantic, Que.
Transportation Safety Board praises Transport Canada for plan to phase out old cars
Canada's Transportation Safety Board has given a positive grade to the federal government for its response to recommendations made following last July’s train derailment and explosion in Lac-Mégantic, Que.
The TSB made three recommendations in January:
- Review the use of DOT-111 tanker cars.
- Strategic route planning and safer operations for trains carrying dangerous goods in Canada.
- Emergency response assistance plans along routes where large volumes of liquid hydrocarbons are being shipped.
The train that derailed and exploded in Lac-Mégantic, killing 47 people, was carrying 72 DOT-111 tanker cars of crude oil.
Since the recommendations were made by the TSB, both CN and CP announced they would be phasing out their older DOT-111 tanker cars.
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TSB chairwoman Wendy Tadros said Transport Canada is “leading the way” by ordering the cars to be phased out or retrofitted within three years.