The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) reported Friday that the runaway train that exploded in Lac-Mégantic was not properly stopped due to insufficient braking force.
“The TSB investigation determined that the braking force applied was insufficient to stop the train on the 1.2 per cent grade,” the TSB said in a statement.
“The number of mechanical brakes” used on the 72-car oil tanker train that exploded in the town of Lac-Mégantic in eastern Quebec “is just one factor” among others that must be considered by investigators, said Ed Belkaloul, who is in charge of the investigation.
The Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway train was parked in a town near Lac-Mégantic for a crew change when it moved, derailed and exploded, destroying the town centre and killing 47 people.
Authorities have called for brakes on all trains operating on major routes to be examined. They have also called for a review of protocols for the transport of dangerous goods.
The TSB also asked the Department of Transport Canada to review train safety rules “with the aim of preventing unintentional movements.”
The investigation into the July 6 accident will take several more weeks, Belkaloul said.
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