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Rail transportation safety investigation R17V0220

The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 29 March 2019.

Table of contents

Main-track train collision with track equipment

Canadian Pacific Railway
Freight train 868-078
Mile 68.4, Mountain Subdivision
Fraine, British Columbia
31 October 2017

View final report

The occurrence

On , at about 0600 Pacific Daylight Time, Canadian Pacific Railway freight train 868-078 was proceeding eastward on the Mountain Subdivision at 15 mph when it collided with a backhoe equipped with a hi-rail cart just west of Mile 68.4 near Fraine, British Columbia (BC). The backhoe operator was transported to hospital with serious injuries. The backhoe sustained damage to the boom and windshield. The train crew members were not injured. The lead locomotive sustained minor damage.


News release

2019-03-29

TSB issues final report on collision between a freight train and track equipment near Fraine, British Columbia, in October 2017
Read the news release


Investigation information

Map showing the location of the occurrence


Investigator-in-charge

Photo of Darlene Roosenboom

Darlene Roosenboom has been with the Railway/Pipeline Investigations Branch of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) since 2004. Currently Specialist/Senior Investigator, Operations, she has provided oversight on a number of investigations, and is also a trusted agent of TSB's confidential reporting system, Securitas. Before joining the TSB, Ms. Roosenboom worked for Canadian National Railway Company (CN) for 15 years, predominantly as rail traffic controller; she also held management positions in the work program office, and was a crew coordinator. Ms. Roosenboom obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from York University, majoring in Sociology.


  Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.

Class of investigation

This is a class 2 investigation. These investigations are complex and involve several safety issues requiring in-depth analysis. Class 2 investigations, which frequently result in recommendations, are generally completed within 600 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.

TSB investigation process

There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation

  1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
  2. Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
  3. Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.

For more information, see our Investigation process page.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.