CN Issues Incident Response Following Derailment

Canadian National

Repentigny, QUÉBEC- After the July 5 derailment in Repentigny, Québec, CN issued an incident response.

On July 5, a CN train derailed in Repentigny’s Le Gardeur sector located north of Montreal. Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigators inspected the scene and stated they would “gather information and assess the occurrence,” according to a CBC report. CN conducted an inspection of the derailed train cars and found no hazardous materials. The cause for the derailment is still under investigation by both the TSB and CN, which includes events caused by weather, water, track geometry, thermal expansion, and mechanical parts. CN is conducting additional inspections until a cause is determined “definitively.”

Now, CN has given an incident response where the Class I says it “recognizes and understands the concerns of citizens in Repentigny following the resumption of train service at the site of Sunday’s derailment.” Before service resumed, CN worked to rebuild the track and track bed. Crews continue working in the area to restore 2,400 feet of track and add 2,100 tons of new ballast. CN says the track has been resurfaced and rail ties have been replaced. Additionally, a public crossing will be built soon.

After the derailment, service has resumed with trains operating at 10 mph. The regulated limit for freight rains is 50 mph. The reduced speed limit will remain in place while additional work is conducted. Only after “rigorous engineering assessments,” including rail integrity testing, track geometry, and the regulator’s inspection, will normal speeds resume.