Train Derailment Prince Rupert
Last updated on April 2, 2026Disclaimer:
- Information provided is based on reports received by Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR).
- Information provided is considered to be current at the time of posting, but is subject to change.
Incident description
| Incident Date | March 16, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Name | DGIR: 260965 |
| Source | Rail Cars |
| Nearest Community | Prince Rupert, B.C. |
| Spilled Content | Diesel |
| Who is involved |
Ministry of Environment and Parks (ENV), West Coast Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Transport Canada (TC), Canadian National Railway (CN), Gitxaala Environmental Services, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) |
Response phase details
The responsible person or spiller is legally required to cleanup or manage the cleanup of a spill.
In incidents where the responsible person is unknown, unable or unwilling to manage the cleanup, the Ministry of Environment and Parks (ENV) may assume the role.
The updates below reflect the ministry’s oversight of the spillers’ actions. Details describe the spill response phase only and not the complete lifecycle of the spill. Visit the 'More information' page for other reports.
Updates are in reverse chronological order with the most recent at the top.
Industry-specific language may be explained in the Glossary of Terms (PDF, 106KB).
Most recent updates
March 25
It has been confirmed that twenty‑seven empty grain cars and one locomotive derailed, with nine grain cars coming to rest in the intertidal zone.
Approximately 7,949 litres of diesel were released from the locomotive with 4,529 litres recovered through skimming and absorbent materials. An estimated 3,421 litres remain unaccounted for.
Salvage and cleanup operations remain ongoing with five of the nine intertidal grain cars having been removed. The remaining four are expected to be removed during the next operational period.
Excavation of contaminated soils is underway, with material to be transported to Alberta for final disposal.
Ministry of Environment staff continue to monitor response activities and review sampling results, waste management plans, and daily reports for compliance.
The situation is considered stable. The incident has moved from emergency operations into the recovery phase. No further public updates are planned.
March 20
The locomotive that leaked diesel has been removed from the site. An estimated volume of diesel released is being determined.
The rail tracks have reopened to train traffic. The access road to the site has also reopened, allowing additional response personnel to access the area.
Limited sheening continues to be observed in the nearby marine passage. Containment and recovery measures remain in place.
An environmental consultant has been retained to assess potential impacts.
An Environmental Emergency Response Officer is expected to attend the incident site today.
Provincial environmental staff continue to monitor response activities.
Further updates will be provided when more information becomes available.
March 19
An Environmental Emergency Response Officer has attended the incident site to assess impacts and response actions underway.
Limited sheening continues to be observed in the nearby marine passage. Containment and recovery measures remain in place.
Site access is currently by boat only. Track reconstruction will be required to address derailed rail cars and allow heavy equipment to be mobilized for locomotive removal and site cleanup.
Containment measures have been installed in the drainage ditch below the locomotive, with absorbent materials in place at the culvert outfall. Marine response crews continue to monitor containment boom and deploy skimmers.
Provincial environmental staff will continue on‑site monitoring for regulatory compliance. Additional response planning information has been requested to support ongoing recovery efforts.
Further updates will be provided when more information becomes available.
March 18
Response activities are ongoing following confirmation of a diesel release associated with the derailment.
Containment and recovery measures are being implemented to address fuel that has migrated from the derailment area toward nearby marine waters, particularly Inverness Passage. A sheen has been observed, indicating that a portion of the product may have reached the passage.
West Coast Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) have responded and deployed specialized marine response resources, including containment boom, absorbent materials, and skimming equipment. Additional skimming capacity is being mobilized to support recovery efforts.
An Environmental Emergency Response Officer is enroute to the site and will provide on-site oversight once they arrive.
Further updates will be provided when more information becomes available.
March 16
A train derailment involving 27 rail cars occurred following a mudslide triggered by heavy rainfall approximately 20 kilometers south of Prince Rupert. Sixteen of the rail cars remain in various positions and require recovery operations.
Initial reports indicated that no spill had occurred at the time of the derailment. However, subsequent assessments confirmed that at least one locomotive fuel tank is leaking, with an estimated 1,000 litres of diesel being released. The product has migrated through the drainage pathway toward nearby marine waters.
Response actions were initiated immediately following confirmation of the spill. Environmental response contractors and a qualified environmental professional have been retained to support site assessment, containment, and cleanup activities. Additional Indigenous environmental services are providing support for site access and cleanup operations, including marine access.
Marine response crews have mobilized containment boom, absorbent materials, and skimming equipment as a precautionary measure to address potential diesel migration. Additional marine skimming assets are being deployed.
Notifications have been made to affected First Nations and relevant federal agencies.
Provincial environmental agency staff have been remotely monitoring the incident and are deploying to the site to conduct oversight and coordinate with response partners.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.