Canadian authorities are investigating the derailment of a 45-railcar freight train in Repentigny, northeast of Montreal. The incident did not result in any casualties, fires, or hazardous material spills, but led to precautionary evacuations and power outages in the area.
A freight train operated by CN Rail, a Canadian rail operator, derailed on Sunday in the city of Repentigny, located northeast of Montreal in the province of Quebec.
The incident occurred in the Le Gardeur sector, near Le Bourg-Neuf Boulevard and Émile-Genest Street. Repentigny police reported that the first calls were received around 4:30 p.m..
According to the railroad company, approximately 45 railcars derailed and came to rest in various positions along the track. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
No Spills or Fires
Local authorities and CN Rail reported that there were no spills, fires, or hazardous materials on board.
Three of the railcars involved had previously carried diesel fuel but were empty at the time of the derailment. CN Rail stated that it inspected the railcars and confirmed that there were no hazardous materials on board.
Residents in the affected area were evacuated as a precaution, but the municipality announced Sunday evening that the area is safe and that people can return home.
“From the very first minutes of the response, our priority was to ensure the safety of residents. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of our emergency teams and partners, the situation was quickly brought under control,” said Nicolas Dufour, mayor of Repentigny.
The derailment affected the power grid
The incident also caused a major disruption to the power supply in the area.
According to Hydro-Québec, more than 2,600 customers in the Lanaudière region were initially affected by power outages. On Sunday evening, more than 1,000 customers were still without power, but service had been almost completely restored by Monday morning.
The Jacques-Dupuis Aquatic Center remained open until midnight for residents who needed a cool place to stay or the opportunity to charge their electronic devices.
Some streets near the railroad tracks remained closed. These include Le Bourg-Neuf Boulevard, between Émile-Genest and Rosalie-Cadron streets, as well as Rue de la Paix, in the area of the railroad tracks.
CN and TSB Canada Investigation
CN Rail announced that it has sent teams to the scene and has launched an investigation to determine the causes of the derailment.
Work to dismantle, clean up, and remove the railcars is expected to continue in the coming days. Authorities have asked people to avoid the area to allow emergency crews to work safely.
Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), Canada’s independent agency for investigating transportation accidents, announced that it has sent a team to the scene to conduct a separate investigation.
The cause of the derailment has not yet been determined. The investigation will seek to clarify the circumstances under which the 45 railcars derailed and whether the rail infrastructure was damaged.
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