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SOURCE: Global News

DATE: December 11, 2019

SNIP: The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released new details regarding the Canadian Pacific Railway train derailment near Guernsey, Sask.

The train originated in Rosyth, Alta., — right next to Hardisty, which is home to a large oil storage and terminal facility — and was destined for Oklahoma.

It was heading east and travelling at about 70 kilometres per hour when it derailed just after midnight on Monday.

TSB said Wednesday its preliminary examination suggests 19 of the 34 cars that derailed lost its entire load, releasing an estimated 1.5 million litres [400,000 gallons] of crude oil into the ground and atmosphere.

The spill became engulfed in fire, which burned for approximately 24 hours.

“A more precise determination of the tank car damage and the amount of product released will be made as product is recovered and the investigation progresses,” the TSB said in a statement.

The TSB said the derailed cars included a mix of Class 117R and CPC-1232 Class 111 tank cars.

Class 117R cars are an upgraded version considered to have improved safety features over the cars that were involved in the 2013 fatal explosion and fire in Lac Megantic, Que.