The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 9 July 2021.

Canadian Pacific Railway Yard Assignment CW11-06 Alyth Classification Yard Calgary, Alberta 06 January 2019

On 06 January 2019, at approximately 0655 Mountain Standard Time, the crew of Canadian Pacific Railway Yard Assignment CW11-06 was switching cars eastward into the classification tracks at Alyth C-Yard in Calgary, Alberta, when 56 cars disconnected from the movement and ran uncontrolled down the lead track into the designated emergency track, contacting a cut of stationary loaded hopper cars. As a result of the collision, a total of 22 cars derailed. No injuries were reported. A small amount of fertilizer pellets was spilled and later recovered. The product was non-regulated and posed no threat to the environment.

Rail Safety Advisory letter 01/20: Inclusions and porosity in a coupler knuckle

Failure of a rail car coupler led to 2019 rail yard collision and derailment in Calgary, Alberta Read the news release

TSB deploys an investigator to the site of a train derailment in Calgary, Alberta

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying an investigator to the site of a Canadian Pacific train derailment at Alyth Yard in Calgary, Alberta. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.

James Carmichael has been with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) in the Railway/Pipeline Investigations Branch since 2008. During his time at the TSB he has been a key investigator in a number of investigations in Western Canada.

Before joining the TSB, Mr. Carmichael held various mechanical positions with four separate railroads. At British Columbia Railway (BCR) from 1980 to 2004, Mr. Carmichael gained considerable experience in the mechanical field; he worked as a carman and progressed into a management role as general supervisor in the Car Department. Over the next 4 years Mr. Carmichael worked for CN Rail and CP Rail as a mechanical supervisor. He was also regional manager for Mechanical with OmniTRAX's Carlton Trail, Hudson Bay, and Okanagan Valley Railroads. He holds certifications as a hazardous materials technician and tank car specialist and was a member of BCR’s Emergency Response Team. Mr. Carmichael lives in Vernon, British Columbia.

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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.

There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation

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.