Canadian Pacific clarifies circumstances on Wanup derailment

CALGARY, June 3, 2013 /CNW/ - Canadian Pacific Railway (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) today released information from the company's preliminary investigation relating to the Wanup, Ontario derailment Sunday June 2, 2013.

Certain early media reporting about the incident is inaccurate.  Following are facts revealed through initial review of the incident.

At approximately 9:50 am EDT on Sunday, June 2 a northbound freight train derailed east of Sudbury near Wanup, Ontario.

There were no injuries as a result of the incident.  Environmental experts were immediately deployed to the site and continue working closely with community first responders.

The train was travelling over a rail trestle bridge spanning the Wanapitei River at the time of the incident.

The preliminary CP investigation has identified that one of the rail cars experienced a sudden and unexpected wheel bearing failure which caused the rail car to derail just prior to the bridge.  The derailed car then struck the bridge causing a larger derailment and further infrastructure damage.

Twenty four intermodal containers were involved in the incident, some entering the river as a result of the derailment.  Four currently remain in the river.  Crews are working today to recover these last containers.

CP has an extensive network of electronic wayside train inspection systems.  One of the primary types of detectors examines the temperature of each rail car's wheels.  This train passed by nine of these detectors on its route toward Sudbury.  Each of these detectors showed that all wheels and bearings were operating at a normal and acceptable temperature.  There was no indication of any bearing problems. The two detectors closest to the incident site were inspected Sunday and verified to be working as intended.

This incident could be compared to a properly maintained and serviced passenger vehicle that showed no dashboard alarm indicators prior to experiencing a blown tire.  In this same way, the incident at Wanup was also undetectable.

CP crews and local responders are continuing work to remove the cars from the river, assess the situation and determine the scope of required repairs. Officials are also working on identifying the types of consumer products within the containers involved in the derailment.  Preliminary inspection indicates there are no materials or products of concern to the public or environment.

CP continues its investigation along with local authorities and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

CP has detour routes available to continue with the transportation of customers' shipments.  Some delays will be temporarily incurred.

SOURCE: Canadian Pacific