Second CP derailment at Scotford Yard this month

Another CP train derailed in Scotford Yard near Fort Saskatchewan on Saturday, the second one this month.

The engine was being operated remotely at the time by someone using what's called a "belt pack," a device that links to the onboard computer.

The Transportation Safety Board said nothing spilled in Saturday's derailment, which happened at about 4:45 p.m.

The train was moving about six km/h when three cars carrying plastic pellets went off the tracks. The cars remained upright.

Second remote-operated train derails

9 years ago

Duration 1:04

Two trains have derailed north of Edmonton this month; in both cases the engines were being controlled remotely

"Itlooks to be human error and we will continue to investigate the cause," said CP spokesman Martin Cej, vice-president of public affairs and communications.

Earlier this month, another CP train derailed near the same location, close to Range Road 214 and Township Road 560.

That train was also being operated by belt pack.

In that case, 100,000 litres of the chemical styrene were spilled.

Cej was asked for comment about having two derailments at Scotford Yard involving belt packs in the same month.

"I would say it was a fluke," he said.

Belt packs have been used by all railroads for decades, Cej said, and CP has led in the industry in safety for 12 of the last 14 years.

The TSB said it will not deploy a team to investigate the latest incident, but a spokesperson said the board will gather information.

According to TSB data, 405 incidents involving remotely controlled trains were reported in Canadain the last 10 years. Eightyof those were in Alberta.