On September 30, 2010, about 4:05 p.m. central daylight time, Canadian National Railway (CN) freight train U78982-30 (southbound train), consisting of three locomotives and 116 railcars loaded with iron ore, collided head on with CN freight train U78983-30 (northbound train), consisting of three locomotives and 118 empty iron ore railcars. Prior to the collision, the southbound train was traveling about 15 mph and the northbound train was traveling about 39 mph. Three locomotives and 14 railcars derailed. The five crewmembers on both trains were injured and transported to hospitals. Four crewmembers were treated and released, while the fifth crewmember required additional treatment in the hospital.
We determined that the probable cause of the accident was the southbound train crew’s error in departing the Highland siding before the northbound train had passed. Contributing to the accident was the Canadian National Railway’s use of after-arrival track authorities in nonsignaled territory, a procedure that is vulnerable to human error and lacks inherent safety redundancies to ensure consistent, safe operation. Also contributing to the accident was crew fatigue and inadequate crew resource management.
We made recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration, Canadian National Railway, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, United Transportation Union, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, Kansas City Southern Railway Company, and Norfolk Southern Railroad, and Union Pacific Railroad.
