Commission of Inquiry, Hinton Train Collision (Canada) : The Commission of Inquiry into the Hinton Train Collision was established under Order in Council PC 382, 10 February 1986, under Part I of the Inquiries Act (R.S.C., 1970, c.I-13) and on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport. The deadline for the completion of the Commissioner's report was extended from 30 May to 31 December 1986 by Order in Council, PC 1578, 26 June 1986. The Commission was mandated to and report on the collision of Via Rail Canada Inc. train number 4 and Canadian National Railway train number 413 at or about mile 173, Edson Subdivision in the province of Alberta on 8 February 1986, with particular reference to: (1) the factors contributing to, causes of and circumstances connected with this collision; (2) the adequacy of existing federal law, regulations, rules and standards governing railway operations and safety, insofar as they relate to this collision; (3) the adequacy of existing practices, procedures and standards governing railway operations and safety followed by Canadian National Railways and Via Rail Canada Inc., insofar as they relate to this collision; (4) the performance of all persons and mechanical components involved in the operation of the trains involved in this collision and the traffic control systems governing their movements; (5) the steps which can be reasonably taken to reduce the risk of recurrence of such a collision anywhere in Canada; and (6) any matters incidental or relating to any of the matters referred to in paragraphs 1 to 5. The commissioner was René Paul Foisy. The secretary was James R. Hughes.
At approximately 8:40 a.m., Mountain Standard Time, 8 February 1986, a westbound Canadian National Railway freight train (No. 413) went through a warning light, a stop signal and a switch onto a single track where it collided head-on with an east bound VIA Rail Canada Inc. passenger train (No. 4).
The accident occurred on the main CN line at mile 173, Edson subdivision, 11 miles east of Hinton, Alberta.
Twenty-three people, including seven members of the CN rail crew and 16 passengers, were killed and 71 injured in the accident. The collision caused the derailment of about 80 rail cars. In addition, fuel from the diesel locomotives spilled over part of the wreckage and burst into flames. It is estimated that the total value of equipment damaged or destroyed in the collision, which included six diesel locomotives, one steam generator car, 5 passenger cars, one baggage car, 75 freight cars and 541 feet of track, was over 30 million dollars.
The Government of Canada immediately ordered that a public inquiry be held into the accident. The Minister of Transport, Don Mazankowski, who visited the site of the collision on 9 February, informed the House of Commons the next day as follows:
"the safety of our transportation system is of paramount importance to this Government. We are deeply concerned by this tragedy, and believe that every effort must be made to determine the cause at the earliest possible date. Therefore, given the tragic and extraordinary circumstances surrounding this collision, the Government has ordered a judicial inquiry to ensure that a complete and independent examination takes place."
Although both the Liberals and the New Democratic Party were in favor of an inquiry, they wanted a more comprehensive one undertaken. But the government refused to broaden the mandate on the grounds that it was more important to determine the immediate cause of the rail disaster (see Commission of Inquiry, Hinton Train Collision, Report of the Commissioner the Honourable Mr. Justice René P. Foisy, December, 1986, Ottawa, Supply and Services Canada, 1986, pp. 3, 15-16 and 31-32; House of Commons, Debates, 10 February 1986, pp. 10629-10630 and 10635).
Hearings of the commission were held in Edmonton and Jasper from 24 March to 25 June 1986. There were 541 exhibits filed with the commission. RG33-143 General Inventory
