Faye Ackerman, a TSB board member.

"Moreover, in the last five years, the number of these uncontrolled movements has been on the rise."

Ackerman was among three experts who presented the TSB's findings at a morning news conference in Toronto. She said the probe determined that the two employees who were assembling and moving the 74-car train "lacked the knowledge or experience to properly control it."

Ackerman called on Transport Canada, the ministry responsible for Canada's rail network, to immediately update training standards for employees in "safety-critical positions."

"Transport Canada has been promising a regulatory update for years, as far back as 2003. Now is the time for action ... There can be no more delays," she said.

Technology outpacing regulations, TSB says

According to Rob Johnston, a regional manager of rail investigations atTSB, the crew on shift at the south end of MacMillan Yard, where the train was assembled, consisted of a foreman and a "helper." Both were "qualified conductors" with two years experience, respectively, and both had expertise in using a belt pack — a remote control device used for assembling trains that reduce the number of workers required for the job.

Belt packs are widely used in the industry, Johnston said.

But while the packs have been associated with runaway train incidents in the past, Ackerman said Wednesday that "the problem is not technology."

In his remarks to reporters, Johnston explained that, like most rail yards, MacMillan's topography is like a bowl, with the outer edges elevated to help prevent rail cars from escaping onto the main track.

On the day of