TSB investigates runaway rail car in Saskatoon

The Transportation Safety Board is investigating another case of a runaway railway car rolling through a Saskatchewan city.

The board said on March 27, an empty Canadian Pacific Railway hopper car rolled through a rail yard in Saskatoon and across two public level crossings in the city before coming to a stop.

“During switching by Canadian Pacific employees in the Sutherland Yard, a tail-end rail car separated from the train and rolled uncontrolled through the yard,” the TSB said in a statement on the investigation Monday.

The Saskatoon Fire Department said it was notified shortly after the incident took place in the early morning of March 27, and that communication was satisfactory.

“The City of Saskatoon has a rail working group with transportation, the fire department and the rail companies,” said Saskatoon fire chief Morgan Hackl.

“We have a good relationship with CP and CN, and we’re continuing to address safety concerns with the rail companies.”  

The safety board is already investigating a runaway rail car full of asphalt that rolled about four kilometres through Regina on March 1 from the Co-op refinery complex.

That rail car, which was being handled by staff from Cando Rail, crossed a number of streets before coming to rest near a Regina neighbourhood.

No one was hurt in either case.

Cando Rail has said an air brake on the Regina car was set, but suddenly released.