Transport Canada speeds up removal of least crash-resistant rail tank cars from service

OTTAWA, Sept. 19, 2018 /CNW/ - To protect Canadians who live along our rail corridors, it is important that the movement of flammable liquids by rail is done as safely as possible.

Today, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, accelerated the timeline for removing the least crash-resistant rail tank cars for crude oil and other dangerous goods by issuing Protective Direction 39. 

The new timelines:

• phase out unjacketed—without a layer of thermal protection-- CPC 1232 tank cars that transport crude oil 17 months early, from April 1, 2020 to November 1, 2018; and
• phase out DOT 111 tank cars and unjacketed CPC 1232 tank cars that carry condensates—other highly volatile flammable liquids over six years early, from April 30, 2025 to January 1, 2019.

These measures, combined with other rail safety actions taken by the Government of Canada further enhance public safety by continuing to remove as quickly as possible the least crash resistant tank cars from service.

The Minister today also announced his support for an industry-led crude oil and condensate tank car working group that will make recommendations to Transport Canada on advancing the timelines for the phase out of jacketed—with a layer of thermal protection—CPC 1232 tank cars. 

Quotes

"Phasing out these least crash-resistant tank cars as soon as possible is another concrete step our Government is taking to enhance the safety of communities along our railway lines and to ensure rail continues to provide a reliable method of transportation for our products and commodities.

The Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport

Quick Facts

• 21,367 unjacketed CPC 1232 tank cars will be phased out by November 1, 2018.
• November 1, 2016 marked the complete removal of all DOT 111 tank cars from crude oil service.
• Condensates, which are transported in rail tank cars, are a hydrocarbon mixture sourced from liquid recovery units of natural gas production, gas plant, crude oil vapour treatment units and other plant and refinery operations

Related Products

• Protective Direction 39

SOURCE Transport Canada

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2018/19/c7661.html