CN track infrastructure faults under TSB's microscope

Morning North6:03Rail worker union - track maintenance and inspections

A section of track from the latest derailment near Gogama is under scrutiny as the TSB continues its investigation. Brian Stevens, National Rail Director for Unifor, provided some insight into track maintenance and rail inspections.

Two unions say the Transportation Safety Board is highlighting faults in track infrastructure in three recent train derailments.

They both say faster, heavier trains are pushing the limits of the rails.

• Fix tracks or slow trains down, union says
• Gogama derailment: TSB wants reinforced tank cars sooner

The Transportation Safety Board is analyzing a failed joint taken from the bridge where a CNtrain derailed on March 7, nearGogama, Ont.

The national rail director with Unifor says the board is considering joint failure in thisand two other recent derailments.

"The TSB will hopefully determine whether there's a systemic failure here in either maintenance standards, or maybe there's a requirement to provide more regulations on track inspection and maintenance,"Brian Stevens said.

He added there are fewer people checking the rails, and said the number of inspectors has dropped from 20,000 to 3,000 over the last two decades. Rail companies are relying on technology instead, he said.

"Whether they're using more way-side detectors, impact detectors, hotbox detectors, track geometry, [theyre] relying on these reports to demonstrate to Transport Canada [that] we don't need boots on the ground."

The train had been obeying an order limiting speed, but the president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference says it was still going too fast.

Doug Finnson said companies want trains to be longer and go faster.

"They speak of a maximum amount of trains moving across and so, if they increase the speed, increase the length and increase the weight, they make more money, obviously.

CN said in a statement it has enhanced inspection procedures on the northern Ontario rail corridor.

Read the TSB report here.