Fatal CP train derailment in British Columbia closes track

Around 1 a.m. MT on Monday, a westbound Canadian Pacific (CP) freight train derailed east of Field, B.C. The train was carrying grain that was being hauled from Calgary, Alta,. to Vancouver, B.C., when it derailed between the Upper and Lower Spiral Tunnels just east of Field, B.C.

According to Keith Creel, CP’s president and CEO, three crew members were killed. Conductor Dylan Paradis, engineer Andrew Dockrell and trainee Daniel Waldenberger-Bulmer.

“In the hours ahead we remain focused on employee safety and the safety of our first responders, in addition to working closely with the families of the deceased and all our employees. This is a tragedy that will have a long-lasting impact on our family of railroaders. The incident is under investigation and we will not speculate at this time on a cause – we owe it to those involved to get it right,” Creel says.

Although CP hasn’t confirmed how long the track will be closed, they say recovery will be complex and challenging given the remote location and extreme weather.

A full investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is now underway to determine the cause. TSB will be holding a media briefing Tuesday morning.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Categories: Logistics / News / Western Canada