Canadian National Railway (CN) is still determining the facts surrounding last week’s collision between two freight trains in northern Alberta. On May 18, 2025 a grain train with a max speed of 40 mph collided with a battery train traveling 70 mph. The two commuter trains met on the same track, sideswiping each other at low speed.
According to reports, multiple rail cars carrying grain derailed in the crash. Fortunately, no train crew members or residents of the communities where these incidents occurred were injured. The departure orientation of both trains remains a mystery. This uncertainty complicates the investigation and raises crucial questions regarding the causes of the collision.
Mathew Howell, a CN spokesperson, shared more context about the incident. He verified that one of the trains was a Canadian National Railway train transporting grain. At the same time, the other train was carrying battery materials. The initial report about the collision was released at 3:56 PM on the same day, with an update issued later at 7:25 PM.
CN’s Michnowski issued a statement emphasizing the company’s commitment to safety and thorough investigation. Ongoingly, the railway has undertaken a systemic investigation of the accident to identify the specific causes and contributing elements.
CN puts safety first. It is committed to making sure that all protocols are absolutely adhered to so that something like this doesn’t happen again. As more investigations are conducted, more information will be released, and CN will inform CN as that information becomes available.
