Canadian National locomotives are seen Monday, February 23, 2015 in Montreal.Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press
A Canadian National Railway Co. conductor is dead after an incident at rail yard in Saskatoon on Thursday night.
The Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating the accident, but had few details to share on Friday and was referring calls to CN.
"A CN conductor was killed while performing his duties. The situation is under assessment right now," the TSB's Julie Leroux said by phone.
"This is a tragic occurrence and our thoughts are with the employee's family and friends. All circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation," said CN spokesman Patrick Waldron. In an e-mail, he said no further details were available.
CN's safety record has come under the scrutiny of the federal government after the two recent fiery derailments in Northern Ontario. The company's board also withheld a portion of CEO Claude Mongeau's bonus for 2014, citing a "deterioration" in the Montreal-based railway's safety record in 2014.
Meanwhile, the TSB said CN has reported a grain train derailment in Irricana, northeast of Calgary. Twenty-five of 104 cars are off the tracks, and the TSB said it is determining if the derailment is severe enough to send investigators.
Eric Atkins