New Brunswick-based Irving Oil Ltd said it will convert its entire fleet of DOT-111 railcars to meet a new standard set in January by Canada’s Transportation Safety Board.
The round-bodied DOT-111 crude tankers — called CTC-111A in Canada — were involved in the disaster at Lac-Mégantic, Quebec last summer. A derailment and explosion there killed 47 people and destroyed much of the town.
The train was carrying a shipment of Bakken crude oil headed for Irving Oil’s refinery in Saint John.
Irving said it will also ask suppliers to meet new standards for railcars set by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) by the end of the year.
“The AAR specifications recommend that DOT-111 railcars built after October 2011 include reinforcements and enhancements that have been reported to reduce the risk of product loss if the railcars are involved in derailments,” CBC News said.
Any remaining older-model railcars will be removed from service during the next 10 weeks, Irving said.
“By April 30, Irving Oil’s in-service proprietary DOT-111 rail fleet in Canada and the United States will consist exclusively of railcars built in 2012 and 2013,” the report said.
