Transport Committee on Oct. 10th, 2024

[Lisa Setlakwe]

That's up to them to call upon the resources that are available to them. The minister made reference to the fact that they actually have to make arrangements with bus operators, etc.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you very much.

Next, we have Mr. Iacono.

The floor is yours for six minutes, Mr. Iacono.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks also to the witnesses for being here.

On September 19, 2024, in his testimony before the committee, Mr. Péloquin, the president and chief executive officer of Via Rail Canada, stated that the company was conducting a comprehensive assessment to determine the causes of the multiple mechanical failures on train 622.

Are you aware of those discussions between Via Rail and Siemens to determine the cause of the mechanical failures?

[Lisa Setlakwe]

The investigation they are conducting is their project. They have agreed to make the reports that come out of that analysis available.

We are going to take their analysis into account, of course, but we are also doing our own analysis in order to properly understand the causes of the mechanical problems that led to the incident.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

So you know that there is an investigation, but you do not know when the findings of the investigation will be delivered to you.

Should that not have been established first, given the urgency of the situation, since there are other trains still operating? Would Transport Canada not have thought that useful?

[Lisa Setlakwe]

We don't have a precise deadline. We only know that it will be in the next few months. It might be difficult to set a deadline given that they don't know where the investigation is going to take them.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

To your knowledge, have these new trains had other major mechanical problems?

[Stephen Scott, Director General, Rail Safety and Security, Department of Transport]

From a regulator's perspective, we're not aware of a systemic issue with the fleet at this time.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

How satisfied are you with the performance of the new Siemens Venture trains to date?

[Lisa Setlakwe]

As my colleague said, there are no systemic problems. It is a new fleet, so it is understood that adjustments are going to be needed along the way. For now, however, there is no widespread problem with the new equipment.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

On September 4, 2024, the former minister of transport required that Via Rail update its emergency management action plan and review the communication protocol with Transport Canada within 30 days.

Have you received what was requested?

[Stephen Scott]

Thank you for the question.

As the minister said, we have received a letter from Via Rail management informing us of the key measures that will be implemented.

It's part of the independent investigations that will occur. We will be receiving those, but as the minister said, we haven't received all the complete action plans at this point in time.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

So to your knowledge, Via Rail has not yet responded to those requests, which were to have been met within 30 days.

[Stephen Scott]

I think some elements have come in, and we're waiting on others.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Could you describe Transport Canada's involvement in these efforts, if any?

[Stephen Scott]

Thank you for your question.

As the regulator, we will review the reports and findings that Via Rail commissions and provides to us. We will do our own due diligence review to ensure that we're satisfied with any issues around the fleet, and I'm referring specifically to the fleet. If we're not satisfied in any way or if we believe extra action should be taken from a safety perspective, we, as a regulator, have the tools and measures to impose those. That's on the safety side, specifically.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

I am pleased to hear it. I was concerned specifically about the safety of train users. I am actually one.

When do you think we can expect to receive some answers, some conclusions and details, so we can reassure Canadians and let them know they can continue taking the train with complete safety?

[Lisa Setlakwe]

First, given that this is a safety issue, I want to say that following the incident we did an inspection and we did not find any instances of non-compliance. I want to reassure Canadians on that point.

Regarding the report, as the minister said, we expect to receive the report and recommendations in the early part of 2025.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Ms. Setlakwe and Mr. Iacono.

The floor is yours for six minutes, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Regarding the incident that occurred on Labour Day, we learned from the media that the train in question was being run in at the time the incident and the technical problem occurred, but nonetheless the train was carrying passengers on a regular schedule during the running-in period.

Do you have more information about the procedure for putting a new train into circulation during the running-in period? Is it used to carry passengers as soon as it is received?

Is there checking to be done or protocols to follow to make sure the trains are working properly before passengers are boarded?

[Stephen Scott]

Thank you for your question.

All railway companies must follow the same procedure when they put new trains into circulation.

There are several steps that the railways need to take to fulfill their obligations as regulated entities to provide assurances to us as the regulator that the new fleet meets the new safety standards. It's a lot of engineering paperwork and documentation. It's their obligation to demonstrate to us that the new fleet meets the safety standards.

We do a due diligence review on that, and that includes dry-run inspections before the fleet is introduced to satisfy ourselves that it meets those standards. In addition to that, the company itself has a series of pre-commissioning milestones and procedures that it does. That's the Transport Canada role; we don't have an official certification role. We're not a certification body. However, we do that due diligence review to ensure that the engineering standards and guidelines are being met with any new fleet from any railway company.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

As I understand it, the trains are not tested empty. You are saying that checking is done to see whether they meet engineering standards and people are asked to complete the paperwork, but are the trains run empty, with a driver, to see whether they are working before they are put into circulation?

[Stephen Scott]

I don't have all the details, but I imagine that much of the process for the railway companies consists of doing empty testing to make sure everything is working.

[Lisa Setlakwe]

Tests were done.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Right.

Mr. Thangaraj, you started to answer one of my questions earlier, about the new long-haul fleet. I don't know whether you remember what you wanted to say then.