Ottawa tightens railway safety measures in wake of Lac-Megantic train disaster

OTTAWA The federal government is tightening safety measures for railways operating in Canada in the aftermath of last years deadly derailment in Lac-Megantic, Que., in which rules simply were not followed.

We will always remember what happened in Lac-Megantic, Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said Wednesday.

This past year has been difficult for all those involved with respect to this tragedy, she said. This tragedy is a case where rules simply were not followed.

Ms. Raitt, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, said the new measures will improve railway safety and make the transportation industry more accountable.

The derailment in July 2013 caused an explosion that killed 47 people and destroyed part of the southern Quebec town. The train, which was carrying volatile crude oil, broke loose after stopping for the night and slammed into the community.

It has been described as Canadas worst train disaster. Ottawa has accepted the recommendations by the Transportation Safety Board, issued in July, that will give the federal government greater powers to enforce and respond quickly to safety issues and they will help protect Canadian communities and strengthen our transportation network because that is a vital element of our economy and our country, Ms. Raitt said.

We want to better protect Canadians in their communities. But we have to maintain that transportation network that we actually need in order to move goods around our country and support our economy.

The new measures cover four areas, beginning with ensuring that unattended trains are properly secured.

All rail operators will need to meet minimum requirements for hand-break application and to test hand-break effectiveness. The new measure will require additional defences on all siding and other appropriate locations to physically prevent unattended trains from rolling away.

Transport Canada will fund research and the development of improved braking systems.

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Ottawa tightens railway safety measures in wake of Lac-Megantic train disaster