Safety concerns still linger as Lac-Mégantic, Que. marks 12th anniversary of rail tragedy

The Canadian Press · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jul 06, 2025 3:22 PM EDT | Last Updated: 11 hours ago

As citizens of Lac-Mégantic, Que., marked the 12th day of a obstruction catastrophe that killed 47 radical erstwhile a
runaway bid derailed and smashed into downtown, an advocator warned that much needs to beryllium done to guarantee obstruction safety.

On Sunday, the municipality lowered flags to half-mast, laid flowers and organized a infinitesimal of soundlessness to commemorate the July 6, 2013 tragedy.

Officials person besides asked that the obstruction institution not tally trains done the country retired of respect for the victims.

The spokesperson for a citizens' obstruction information group, however, believes not capable has been done to guarantee the town's immoderate 6,000 residents are harmless from aboriginal disasters.

Robert Bellefleur says trains person go longer and heavier, portion a long-promised bypass to divert them from the city's halfway has not been built.

Rails not built for 'monster trains,' advocator says 

"Before, trains (had) an mean of astir 80 cars. (...) Trains present person much than 200 cars, are implicit 15,000 feet long, with ample locomotives that often measurement much than 150 tonnes," helium said. 

These "monster" trains are travelling connected obstruction lines built betwixt 1880 and 1920 "for trains that were overmuch lighter and overmuch smaller," Bellefleur said.

 He believes trains are much unsafe present than astatine the commencement of the 2000s, and "it's not conscionable Lac-Mégantic that's astatine risk."

In caller months, helium said citizens person noticed deterioration and erosion astir railway culverts adjacent the town's entrance, which is "nothing to reassure citizens," Bellefleur said.

The Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway sent workers to the site, helium said.

In a statement, CPKC said the tracks are successful bully signifier and well-maintained. 

"The obstruction enactment moving done Lac-Mégantic is harmless for obstruction operations, arsenic confirmed by galore regular inspections,
including 1 carried retired connected Saturday," said institution spokesperson André Hannoush successful an email.

The 2013 derailment and occurrence destroyed overmuch of the downtown core, forced astir 2,000 radical to evacuate their homes and spilled immoderate six cardinal litres of crude lipid into the environment.

The catastrophe happened erstwhile the brakes failed connected a bid parked successful adjacent Nantes and it barrelled down a slope and exploded successful the bosom of town.

Rail bypass task inactive not built

In 2018, the national and provincial governments committed to associated backing for a obstruction bypass to nonstop trains astir Lac-Mégantic's downtown.

While onshore expropriations took spot successful 2023, the Canadian Transportation Agency has yet to greenlight operation and has requested further accusation connected the project's biology impacts.

Some citizens successful Lac-Mégantic and neighbouring communities person besides go opposed to the bypass, citing interest with the route, outgo and imaginable harm to wetlands and h2o supplies.

Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland issued a connection connected Sunday marking the anniversary, and saluting the courageousness of "an full assemblage that, twelvemonth aft year, continues to rebuild itself with dignity and resilience."

She said the bypass was 1 of her priorities, and promised to enactment with the communities until it's completed.

Bellefleur, for his part, said Freeland is the sixth national transport curate to marque specified promises.

"In that time, the years spell by," helium said.