''One of the conclusions drawn by the (Transportation Safety Board) was that the quick actions of the two locomotive crew members on Via train No. 74 likely averted a greater disaster when their train derailed and collided with hopper cars standing on a siding,'' the report said.On April 23, 1999, Kevin Lihou and Don Blain were at the helm of Toronto-bound Via train, with 180 passengers on board.Barrelling toward train 74 was another passenger train, Windsor-bound Via train 71, carrying 88 people.Although the trains were supposed be travelling on opposite tracks, switches were in the wrong position and they were set on a collision course.
''The actions of the locomotive crew members probably prevented a secondary collision with the approaching westbound passenger train,'' the report said.
Seventy-seven passengers and crew on board train No. 74 were treated in hospital. Four were admitted with serious injuries while others were treated on site.
Among the board's recommendations were :
the development of additional permanent system defences for trains approaching main track switches;
the review of system design specifications with regard to human errors;
the review of policies and regulations governing the storage of cars transporting dangerous goods within the rail transportation system.