Canadian officials find 'insufficient' braking on deadly runaway train - CNN

Canadian officials find 'insufficient' braking on deadly runaway train

By Michael Martinez, CNN

Updated 0609 GMT (1409 HKT) July 20, 2013

An unmanned train carrying 72 tankers of crude oil plowed into the heart of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, on Saturday, devastating the town and shocking people in Canada and beyond. Daniel Poulin, a longtime resident of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, and editor of a local monthly newspaper, lost friends in the train disaster.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – An unmanned train carrying 72 tankers of crude oil plowed into the heart of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, on Saturday, devastating the town and shocking people in Canada and beyond. Daniel Poulin, a longtime resident of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, and editor of a local monthly newspaper, lost friends in the train disaster.
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Police officers remove caution tape in areas of Lac-Megantic that were off-limits to residents. Since the July 6 derailment, wide areas of downtown have been restricted as authorities cleaned up and investigated the disaster site.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – Police officers remove caution tape in areas of Lac-Megantic that were off-limits to residents. Since the July 6 derailment, wide areas of downtown have been restricted as authorities cleaned up and investigated the disaster site.
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The derailment in downtown Lac-Megantic wiped out 40 buildings and killed dozens of people. Many more people are still missing and believed to have been vaporized in the inferno.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – The derailment in downtown Lac-Megantic wiped out 40 buildings and killed dozens of people. Many more people are still missing and believed to have been vaporized in the inferno.
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Luce Robineau, on the train tracks directly behind her home, lost her business in the derailment. She operated a boutique downtown and hopes to rebuild.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – Luce Robineau, on the train tracks directly behind her home, lost her business in the derailment. She operated a boutique downtown and hopes to rebuild.
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Ed Burkhardt, CEO of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, spoke to media in Lac-Megantic on Wednesday, July 10, four days after the train wreck. He was heckled by onlookers, and many residents say he has mishandled the ordeal.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – Ed Burkhardt, CEO of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, spoke to media in Lac-Megantic on Wednesday, July 10, four days after the train wreck. He was heckled by onlookers, and many residents say he has mishandled the ordeal.
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Protesters shout at rail executive Ed Burkhardt. The town is seething with anger.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – Protesters shout at rail executive Ed Burkhardt. The town is seething with anger.
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Canadian and Quebec flags fly at half-staff at a Walmart in Lac-Megantic.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – Canadian and Quebec flags fly at half-staff at a Walmart in Lac-Megantic.
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Access to much of Lac-Megantic is restricted, including the railway and downtown.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – Access to much of Lac-Megantic is restricted, including the railway and downtown.
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Andre Blais adjusts a sign erected near the train tracks. It bears a message for the rail company: "Shame on you MMA." It is signed "The population" and refers to the "train from hell."
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – Andre Blais adjusts a sign erected near the train tracks. It bears a message for the rail company: "Shame on you MMA." It is signed "The population" and refers to the "train from hell."
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Shortly after authorities open some barricaded streets, a group of young men stop by to check out the wreckage in downtown Lac-Megantic. It is a sad and stunning sight.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – Shortly after authorities open some barricaded streets, a group of young men stop by to check out the wreckage in downtown Lac-Megantic. It is a sad and stunning sight.
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The wreckage of downtown Lac-Megantic is a stunning sight. Residents say they are determined to come back from the disaster.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – The wreckage of downtown Lac-Megantic is a stunning sight. Residents say they are determined to come back from the disaster.
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Louise Latulipe walks her 10-month-old granddaughter, Mykaelle. Latulipe's daughter had to evacuate her home after the derailment and has not been allowed to return.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – Louise Latulipe walks her 10-month-old granddaughter, Mykaelle. Latulipe's daughter had to evacuate her home after the derailment and has not been allowed to return.
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People gather at the Parc de la Croix to look down over the town where the train derailed.
Photos: Photos: A Canadian town is devastated
A Canadian town is devastated – People gather at the Parc de la Croix to look down over the town where the train derailed.
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Story highlights

  • Canadian agency determines brake force was "insufficient" on train
  • Unmanned train crashed into town of Lac-Megantic this month
  • Train incident killed 38 people
Canada's Transportation Safety Board has determined "the braking force applied was insufficient to hold" an unmanned train that became a runaway and crashed into the town of Lac-Megantic this month, killing 38 people, the agency said Friday.
"The ongoing investigation has determined that the braking force applied was insufficient to hold the train on the 1.2% descending slope between Nantes and Lac-Mégantic," the board said.
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The unmanned 73-car train had been parked in the neighboring Quebec town of Nantes on July 6 but it suddenly rolled into motion after the engineer went to a hotel.
The train slammed into the center of Lac-Megantic, and tank cars full of oil exploded and burned in the heart of the commercial district.
The rail company contends the train's engineer failed to set the brakes properly, but the engineer said he reported to managers that he set 11 hand brakes on the train cars before they broke away from their engines.