Crude: Lac-Mégantic By the Numbers
Hennessy’s Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA’s Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. For other months, visit: http://policyalternatives.ca/index
- 72
Number of rail cars carrying Bakken crude oil that crashed into the Quebec community of Lac-Mégantic in July 2013, killing 47 people. [Source]
- 85
Percentage of tank cars carrying crude oil in North America (at the time of the accident) that were outdated DOT-111 rail cars deemed unsuitable for such transporation. All 72 cars on the MM&A trains that crashed into Lac-Mégantic were old DOT-111s. [Source]
- 2017
The year Canada will have phased out the old DOT-111s rail cars. They’ll be carrying crude oil on the country’s railway system until then. [Source]
- 1
Number of people operating that fateful Lac-Megantic train. With only one other exception, at least two people had typically been required to operate freight trains in Canada. But Transport Canada granted permission to MM&A, the train company whose trains crashed into Lac-Mégantic. [Source]
- 2009
The year a Transportation Safety Board report warned against one-person crews, saying it can increase the risk for runaway equipment. The report also warned about not having a second person to correct errors. [Source]
- 900
Percentage increase in oil by rail exports from Canada to the U.S. between 2009 and 2012. [Source]
- 500
Number of carloads of oil transported by rail in 2009. [Source: Railway Association of Canada, cited Transportation Safety Board report into Lac-Mégantic, 2014, R13D0054, p.92]
- 160,000
Number of carloads of oil transported by rail in 2013. (This amounts to 263,000 barrels per day.) That’s set to triple to 510,000 carloads a day by 2016. [Source: Railway Association of Canada, cited Transportation Safety Board report into Lac-Mégantic, 2014, R13D0054, p.92] [Source]
- 19
Percentage cut in the Rail Safety Directorate budget between 2010 and 2014. The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Directorate has seen its annual budget frozen since 2010. [Source]
- 35
Number of dangerous goods inspectors that the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Directorate (TDG) is expected to handle Canada’s rapid increase in volume of oil by rail. [Source]
- 14
Number of carloads of crude oil moving on Canadian railway lines per TDG inspector in 2009. [Source]
- 4,500
Number of carloads of crude oil moving on Canadian railway lines per TDG inspector in 2013. [Source]
- 29
Percentage of Canadians who told Environics that they’re confident oil can be safely transported by rail. [Source]
- 77
Percentage of Canadians who told Ipsos-Reid that they believe railways have too much leeway on safety. [Source]
