Rail transportation occurrences in 2024

Statistical summary - Rail transportation occurrences in 2024

The TSB gathers and uses transportation occurrence data during the course of its investigations to analyze safety deficiencies and identify risks in the Canadian rail transportation system.

This statistical summary covers federally regulated railways only. Non-federally regulated data reported to the TSB are not included in this report.

This summary serves to describe the accident, incident, and injury countsSee the Definitions section. that are presented in the included tables. It provides limited discussion and some context but is not intended to be an in-depth analysis of the data.

It should be noted that certain characteristics of the data constrain statistical analysis and identification of emerging trends. These include the small totals of accidents and incidents, the large variability in the data from year to year, and changes to regulations and definitions. The reader is cautioned to keep these limitations in mind when viewing this summary to avoid drawing conclusions that cannot be supported by statistical analysis.

The 2024 data were collected according to the reporting requirements described in the Transportation Safety Board Regulations in force during that calendar year.

The statistics presented here reflect the TSB Railway Occurrence Database System (RODS) data as of 31 March 2025. Since the occurrence data are constantly being updated in the live database, the statistics may change slightly over time.

Also, as many occurrences are limited to data gathering, information recorded on some occurrences may not have been verified.

Accidents

Overview of accidents and casualties

In 2024, 896 rail accidentsSee the Definitions section. were reported to the TSB (Figure 1 and Table 1), down from the 2023 total of 918, and 12% below the previous 10-year (2014 to 2023) average of 1021.

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Freight trains accounted for 40% of all rolling stock involved in rail accidents in 2024. Four percent (43 in total) were passenger trains, with the remaining 56% comprising mainly single cars/cuts of cars, locomotives, and track units (Table 3).

The largest proportion of reported rail accidents comprised non-main-track derailments“Derailment” means any instance where one or more wheels of rolling stock have come off the normal running surface of the rail. (39%) (Figure 2 and Table 1). Typically, most non-main-track derailment accidents are minor, occurring during switching operations at speeds of less than 10 mph.

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*  Due to rounding of percentages within categories, additions across accident types should be calculated from Table 1 data rather than by adding percentages shown in Figure 2.

The proportion of accidents that were main-track derailments in 2024 (5%) was down from the previous year (6%) and below the 10-year average (7%).

In 2024, 19% of rail accidents involved vehicles or pedestrians at rail crossings, above the 15% average of the previous 10 years.

In 2024, 87 accidents involved dangerous goods (Table 1),Accidents involving dangerous goods carried on rolling stock, as well as dangerous goods carried on road vehicles. unchanged from 2023 and below the 10-year average of 115. Three accidents resulted in a dangerous goods release in 2024, down from 7 in the previous year, and below the 10-year average of 4.

Rail fatalities (Figure 3 and Table 1) totalled 69 in 2024, up from 67 last year and above the 10-year average of 62. Crossing fatalities totalled 12 in 2024, down from 13 in 2023 and below the 10-year average of 18. TrespasserTrespasser accidents involve persons, primarily pedestrians, who are struck by rolling stock while they are on railway rights-of-way (other than railway crossings) that they are not authorized to occupy, resulting in death, serious injury or property damage. fatalities totalled 56 in 2024, up from 53 in the previous year and above the 10-year average of 42.

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A total of 68 serious injuriesSee the Definitions section. resulted from rail occurrences in 2024 (Figure 4 and Table 1), up from 44 in 2023 and above the 10-year average of 57. Crossing accidentsA crossing accident occurs when railway rolling stock is involved in a grade-crossing collision with a motor vehicle or with a pedestrian, resulting in death, serious injury or property damage. resulted in 24 serious injuries, up from 18 in 2023 but below the 10-year average of 25. Serious injuries to trespassers totalled 35 in 2024, up from 20 last year and above the 10-year average of 20. Six railway employees were seriously injured in 2024, up from 3 in 2023 but below the 10-year average of 11 (Table 2).

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The number of main-track accidentsAccidents that occur on the main track or spurs (not including crossing accidents, trespasser accidents, and non-main-track collisions and derailments) are combined in order to match the figures used in the activity data, which is the total of main-track and spur (i.e., non-yard) million train miles. totalled 199 in 2024 (Figure 5 and Table 1), unchanged from 2023 and approximately equal to the 10-year average of 200. Rail activityTransport Canada, Rail Safety Directorate (email dated 25 March 2025). on main track (i.e., non-yard activity) increased by 3% from the previous year. The main-track accident rate in 2024 was 2.4 accidents per million main-track train miles, down from 2.5 in 2023 and below the 10-year average of 2.6.

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Accidents by type

Main-track collisions and derailments are the most serious categories of rail accidents in terms of potential risk to the public and the environment (e.g., when passenger trains are involved or dangerous goods are released from trains that derail in populated areas).

There were 6 main-track collisions (Table 1 and Figure 6) in 2024, down from the 2023 total of 9 but the same as the 10-year average. There was one serious injury and no fatalities involving main-track collisions in 2024. There was no release of dangerous goods as a result of main-track collisions in 2024 (data not presented).

A total of 48 main-track derailments (Table 4) were reported in 2024, a decrease from the 2023 total of 55, and 37% below the 10-year average of 76 (Figure 6). Twenty-three percent of the 48 main-track derailments occurred in Alberta, 21% occurred in Ontario and 19% occurred in British Columbia.

The number of main-track derailments per million main-track (i.e., non-yard) train miles (Table 4) decreased to 0.58 in 2024 from 0.69 the previous year and was below the 10-year average of 0.98.

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No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from main-track derailments in 2024 (Table 2). Ten main-track derailments involved dangerous goods, unchanged from 2023 and below the 10-year average of 14 (Table 1). Two of these derailments resulted in the release of dangerous goods (butane, diesel fuel) (data not presented).

Non-main-track collisions (Table 5 and Figure 7) totalled 61 in 2024, down from the 2023 total of 63, and below the 10-year average of 84. Derailments occurred in 31 non-main-track collisions (51%), and 11 of those collisions involved the derailment of a single car.

No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from non-main-track collisions in 2024 (Table 2). Dangerous goods were involved in 39% of non-main-track collisions, none of which resulted in a release of product.

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There were 351 non-main-track derailments in 2024 (Table 6 and Figure 7), down from 407 last year and 29% below the 10-year average of 494. In 77% of these accidents in 2024, 1 or 2 cars derailed. No fatalities or serious injuries resulted from non-main-track derailments in 2023 (Table 2).

Dangerous goods cars were involved in 13% of non-main-track derailments, with 1 resulting in a release of product (hydrogen peroxide-aqueous solutions) (data not presented).

Crossing accidents (Tables 7 and 8) represented one of the more serious types of rail accidents in 2024, with 19% of these resulting in serious or fatal injuries (data not presented).

There were 167 crossing accidents in 2024, an 11% increase from the 2023 total of 150 and above the 10-year average of 155. The number of accidents at public automated crossings (67) was down from the 2023 total of 77, and below the 10-year average of 74. The number of accidents at public passive crossings (65) was up 71% from the 2023 total of 38 and above the 10-year average of 51. Accidents at private and farm crossings (35) were unchanged from the 2023 total but above the 10-year average of 30 (Table 7).

In 2024, 40% of crossing accidents occurred at public automated crossings, and 39% at public passive crossings (Table 7 and Figure 8).

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There were 12 fatal crossing accidents in 2024, down from 13 reported in 2023 and below the 10-year average of 17. Crossing-related fatalities totalled 12 in 2024, down from 13 reported in 2023 and below the 10-year average of 18 (Table 7).

Crossing accidents involving pedestrians accounted for 7% (11) of all crossing accidents in 2024, but they accounted for 33% (4) of both fatal crossing accidents and crossing-related fatalities (data not presented).

Crossing-related serious injuries totalled 24 in 2024, up from the 2023 total of 18 but below the 10‑year average of 25 (Table 8).

In 2024, 2 crossing accidents resulted in a train derailment, down from 6 in 2023 and below the 10-year average (5) (Table 8).

No crossing accidents resulted in the release of dangerous goods in 2024.

Ontario had the highest proportion (23%) of all crossing accidents in 2024. Alberta had the second highest proportion with 21% of crossing accidents, followed by Quebec with 17%, Saskatchewan with 14%, Manitoba with 12% and British Columbia with 10%. (Table 8 and Figure 9).

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Trespasser accidents (Table 9 and Figure 10) totalled 95 in 2024, up from 80 in 2023 and above the 10-year average of 65. Ontario accounted for 35% of trespasser accidents, followed by British Columbia with 24%, Alberta with 19%, Quebec with 9% and Manitoba with 5%.

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In 2024, the percentage of trespasser accidents that were fatal (59%) was down from the 10-year average of 64%. The percentage of trespasser accidents resulting in serious injuries (37%) was above the 10-year average of 31%.

Incidents

Overview of incidents

In 2024, there were 302 reported rail incidentsSee the Definitions section. (Figure 11 and Table 1), down from 323 in 2023.

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The movement exceeds limits of authorityA movement exceeds limits of authority incident occurs when rolling stock occupies a main track or subdivision track, or track work takes place, in contravention of the rules or any regulations made under the Railway Safety Act. incident type accounted for 47% of reportable incidents in 2024 (Table 10), followed by non-main-track train derailments involving 1 or 2 cars (with no damage) at 23%, and fires on railway right-of-way (15%).

In 2024, there were 8 uncontrolled movement of rolling stock incidents, as well as 4 derailment incidents that involved an uncontrolled movement of rolling stock. In addition, 31 accidents involved an uncontrolled movement of rolling stock (Table 1), for a total of 43 occurrences (4 of which involved vandalism). This is up from the total of these occurrences in 2023 (37, three of which involved vandalism).

There were 143 movement exceeds limits of authority incidents in 2024, a decrease from 162 reported in 2023 but 6% above the 10-year average of 135 (Table 1).

Data tables

Definitions

The following definitions are based on the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and the associated regulations, as well as the TSB Policy on Occurrence Classification, and apply to the rail transportation occurrences reported pursuant to them.

Occurrence

• Any accident or incident associated with the operation of rolling stock on a railway
• Any situation or condition that the Board has reasonable grounds to believe could, if left unattended, induce an accident or incident described below.

Reportable accident

• A person is killed or sustains a serious injury as a result of
  • getting on or off or being on board the rolling stock, or
  • coming into direct contact with any part of the rolling stock or its contents
• The rolling stock or its contents
  • are involved in a collision and/or a derailment resulting in damages to rolling stock and/or track infrastructure,
  • sustain damage that affects the safe operation of the rolling stock,
  • sustain a fire or explosion, or
  • cause damage to the railway that poses a threat to the safe passage of rolling stock or to the safety of any person, property or the environment
• There is an accidental release on board or from rolling stock that results in any of the events listed in subsection 8.4(2) of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations

Reportable incident

• A risk of collision occurs between rolling stock
• An unprotected main-track switch or subdivision track switch is left in an abnormal position
• A railway signal displays a less restrictive indication than that required for the intended movement of rolling stock
• Rolling stock occupies a main track or subdivision track, or track work takes place, in contravention of the rules or any regulations made under the Railway Safety Act
• Rolling stock passes a signal indicating stop in contravention of the rules or any regulations made under the Railway Safety Act
• There is an unplanned and uncontrolled movement of rolling stock
• A crew member whose duties are directly related to the safe operation of the rolling stock is unable to perform their duties as a result of a physical incapacitation which poses a threat to the safety of persons, property or the environment
• The rolling stock is involved in a minor collision and/or minor derailment (1 or 2 cars) resulting in no damages
• Rolling stock or its contents cause a fire along, or adjacent to, a railway right-of-way.

Serious injury

• A fracture of any bone, except simple fractures of fingers, toes or the nose
• Lacerations that cause severe hemorrhage or nerve, muscle or tendon damage
• An injury to an internal organ
• Second- or third-degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5% of the body surface
• A verified exposure to infectious substances or injurious radiation
• An injury that is likely to require hospitalization

Dangerous goods involvement

“Dangerous goods” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act. An accident is considered to have dangerous goods involvement if any car in the consist carrying (or having last contained) a dangerous good derails, strikes or is struck by any other rolling stock or object. It does not mean that there was any release of any product. Also included are crossing accidents in which the motor vehicle involved (e.g., tanker truck) is carrying a dangerous good.

Derailment

Any instance where one or more wheels of rolling stock have come off the normal running surface of the rail.