23 November 2004 The Transportation Safety Board of Canada Releases the Report of its Investigation into a Derailment and Collision in Ontario During 2003 The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) issued its final report (R03T0080) today into the derailment and collision that occurred near Melrose, Ontario, on 21 Feb 2003 involving an explosion of derailed tank cars containing liquefied petroleum gas.   Following the explosion, about 300 residents were evacuated as a safety precaution.   The TSB investigation found that the accident occurred when a roller bearing overheated and seized, resulting in the derailment of 21 cars. The investigation also revealed that the derailment was more severe because the train had not slowed down to 5 mph or less, despite receiving a tone alarm from the hot box detector (HBD) system.   In response to information uncovered during the TSB investigation, Transport Canada conducted an audit of employee compliance with HBD procedures.   Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) revised its General Operating Instructions and modified the software on all wayside detectors. CPR also complied with Transport Canada's requests to ensure that train inspectors be more diligent in their inspection efforts; to highlight the importance of bearing inspections; to provide training to mechanical and operational staff on roller bearing inspections; and to participate in an industry review of roller bearing life.   "Significant safety action has taken place throughout the investigation to make rail transportation safer in Canada," explained Kim Nelles, investigator-in-charge of this accident. "Canadian Pacific Railway and Transport Canada have taken steps to improve the use of hot box detector technology and CPR operational procedures," he added.   On 21 Feb 2003, at approximately 5:40 in the morning, a CPR freight train derailed 21 cars on the main track of its Belleville Subdivision near Melrose, Ontario. Some of the seven derailed cars containing liquefied petroleum gas collided with the lead locomotive of another CPR freight train waiting in a nearby siding. Three tank car shells were breached and the product burned off. The other four cars subsequently exploded. Sixteen cars from the moving train and the locomotives of the stationary train were extensively damaged. The fire burned for three days. Smoke plumes from the fires and the burning propane caused some concern for air quality in the immediate area. About 300 residents were evacuated as a safety precaution. Both crew members of the stationary train suffered burns from the fireballs of the punctured cars. The crew members of the moving train were not injured.   The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.