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Freight Train operators are falling asleep at the switch and Transport Canada is struggling to prevent it

Transport Canada and Canada's rail companies are struggling to deal with dangerous levels of chronic fatigue among train operators. It's endemic to the current scheduling system. CBC's Dave Seglins explains why so many freight train operators are falling asleep at the controls and what Transport Canada wants to do about it....
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The Current22:00Freight Train operators are falling asleep at the switch and Transport Canada is struggling to prevent it - Oct 8, 2014
Transport Canada and Canada's rail companies are struggling to deal with dangerous levels of chronic fatigue among train operators. It's endemic to the current scheduling system. CBC's Dave Seglins explains why so many freight train operators are falling asleep at the controls and what Transport Canada wants to do about it.

The wreckage of a CN freight train still smoulders in Central Saskatchewan this morning. Yesterday, the train derailed near Wadena and the community of Clair was quickly evacuated. One witness said the flames were 30 meters high.

The Transportation Safety Board is investigating, so it's still too early to know what caused the crash. But as you may have heard on the news, a CBC investigation has shown that in the wake of the disaster that killed 47 people in Lac-Mégantic, there are concerns about chronic fatigue among train operators.

I wouldn't say I totally or completely fallen asleep, but I've been in a daze. I've gone 20 to 30 miles, and I snap into it, and I wonder how I got there. It's not a good feeling.Train Engineer

• Freight train drivers report falling asleep on the job -- Dave Seglins/CBC News


CBC News has learned that Transport Canada and the rail industry are conflicted over what to do about the situation. The CBC's Dave Seglins has been digging into the issue and he joined Anna Maria in our studio to tell us more about this story.


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This segment was produced by The Current's Gord Westmacott.

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