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TSB Demands Immediate Fail‑Safe Train Controls After 2023 Montreal Crash Report

Investigators conclude the CN crew accelerated beyond a 15 mph restriction before striking a stopped commuter train.

Overview

  • The Transportation Safety Board released its final report and urged the federal government to require backup physical safety mechanisms without delay.
  • The CN freight train passed a signal limiting speed to 15 mph, accelerated to 41 mph, and only noticed the commuter train about 150 metres ahead, making a collision unavoidable despite emergency braking.
  • Both in‑cab cameras on the CN locomotive were deliberately covered with paper, restricting investigators’ ability to assess crew actions.
  • The impact pushed the Exo commuter train about 150 feet and injured six people, with paramedics reporting mostly minor injuries at the time.
  • The board reiterated a 25‑year call for physical fail‑safe protections and said interim measures are needed now, noting such systems are widely used in the United States.