Evidence of meeting #7 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was track.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thanks for coming today.
I think it's fair to say that nobody is interested in having accidents in our rail systems. But in reading this draft report, to me it seems to indicate that, for the most part, better accountability from both Transport Canada and the railways themselves would be the first step in making sure that accidents are minimized or come as close as possible to elimination. In fact, it talks about better regulations, more enforcement orders, and more inspections of track--or that's what I seem to get out of the report itself.
As my first question--I have quite a few—has there been a change since January of 2006? I know you haven't had a chance to look at the report, but has there been a change? What enforcement orders and what steps have been taken against railroads by the government in terms of regulations or enforcement orders?
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
I can answer that now.
In 2006 we issued a total of 50 notices and 26 notices in order, for a total of 76. So far this year we have issued 37 notices and 21 notices in order.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Is that a normal situation for the government to issue those kinds of orders?
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
It is, yes. Probably 2006 was a higher number than we usually give on a yearly basis.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Do you have the information from the previous years, such as 2003?
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
We could get you that. That's no problem.
Conservative
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
Also, in 2006 three prosecutions were initiated: two against CN and one against one of CN's employees, who was found guilty two weeks ago. In 2007 there was a prosecution initiated against CP.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
If you have that for 10 years and could provide that, it would be very helpful.
I had an opportunity to speak to somebody who was on the track last night for a period of time. He seemed to indicate to me that accidents or incidents are primarily divided into three categories: crossings, problems with track, and suicides.
Now, as far as suicides go, I don't think we can do much about that, except for information, but crossings and track....
I'd like to talk about track a little bit, because he seemed to indicate that most of the problems are from that. There are two types of cars, I understand, that inspect tracks. There is an x-ray car or a ferry car, and there is a tech car. Now, although we have tech cars, I understand that x-ray cars.... Is the technology patented and owned by an independent company that rents these x-ray cars, or how does that work?
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
The x-ray cars are the ones that some of the railways are contracting from Sperry, which are actually able to detect some defects within the rail, whereas the other one is what we call a track geometry car, which mostly measures the geometry of the track, and the railway owns these cars. There are companies that also provide leases on those cars, but CN and CP own a few of these cars.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Is there a correlation between the accidents that happen and the inspections themselves, or the lack of inspections?
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
Usually, when there is an increase in terms of track-related accidents, we find through our inspections that there's a correlation.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Indeed, are there regulations for the railroad right now as far as how many tech cars they have?
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
No, there is no regulation. Actually, there is no regulation that forces the railway to purchase that type of equipment. However, what we provide within the track safety rules is that if you do use that type of equipment, you can reduce the number of visual inspections, because these vehicles do a better job. But if you don't have those vehicles, you have to increase your number of visual inspections.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Now, would you suggest that the x-ray car or the tech car are both necessary, or indeed, could it be possible to use the tech car to pick up most of these problems with tracks?
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
They definitely provide better readings than you can get visually.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Do you know how many of these cars are currently in service by CN or CP?
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
I know that CP has two. I think CN has two as well, but we could get you that number if you want.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I would appreciate that. And I would like to know of any that are owned by any other short line.
Now, the speed boxes are also on many of the engines now. Is that correct?
Conservative
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
It was a recommendation from the TSB, and right now it is included in our locomotive safety rules.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
So all locomotives in Canada now have to have speed boxes.
Director General, Rail Safety, Department of Transport
On main lines, yes they do.
