Rail transportation safety investigation R19W0017
The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 4 June 2020.
Table of contents
Main-track train derailment
Canadian National Railway Company
Freight train G86742-21
Mile 11.35, Warman Subdivision
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The occurrence
On , at about 0925 Central Standard Time, Canadian National Railway Company freight train G86742-21, travelling southward at 31 mph on the Warman Subdivision, experienced a train-initiated emergency brake application near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After the train came to rest, the train crew determined that 29 cars and the mid-train locomotive had derailed. Many of the derailed cars were piled up on the northbound lanes of divided Highway 11, blocking the crossing. Some of the derailed cars lost their containment, releasing their load of grain. The mid-train locomotive caught on fire; the fire was quickly extinguished. There were no dangerous goods involved. There were no injuries.
Media materials
News releases
Rail manufactured in 1953 identified as a factor in 2019 derailment near Saskatoon
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB is deploying a team of investigators to the site of a train derailment near Warman, Saskatchewan
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the site of a derailment involving a Canadian National Railway train near Warman, Saskatchewan. The investigators will be on site tomorrow to gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
Map showing the location of the occurrence
Investigator-in-charge
Ken Miller joined the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) in 2002 and has been a senior investigator with the Rail and Pipeline Investigations Branch since 2004. During that time he has participated in more than 50 investigations while also performing the duties of standards and performance specialist.
Before joining the TSB, Mr. Miller worked for consulting companies in the resource sector providing geological expertise. In this capacity, he was responsible for the development, management and successful completion of exploration projects.
Mr. Miller’s education credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Sciences from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto, Ontario.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- 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.
- 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.