The Transportation Safety Board of Canada and CN Police Service are currently investigating a train collision that occurred overnight in Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska, Quebec. The incident took place around 1:30 a.m. on Monday when a Via Rail passenger train collided with the trailers of two transport trucks. According to Quebec provincial police, there were 124 individuals on board the train, including passengers and crew, at the time of the crash.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries from the collision. Following the incident, the train bound for Halifax, which had departed from Quebec City, was evacuated due to a lack of heating. Passengers and staff were transported by bus to a local community center in Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska, situated in Quebec’s Lower St. Lawrence region. Via Rail representatives noted that passengers have been transferred to buses to continue their journeys to their final destinations.
As the derailment occurred on a single-track railway section, another train destined for Halifax from Montreal, known as train 15, was affected. Over 100 passengers from that train were transferred to buses at Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, to complete their trips. The investigation revealed that the two trucks had parked near Highway 289 but had positioned themselves too close to the tracks. Although it was uncertain whether the tracks were visible or covered with snow, the truck drivers would have needed to cross the railway to access the parking area.
Audrey-Anne Bilodeau mentioned that there was damage to both the tracks and the train, which could result in delays for other passenger trains. A CN spokesperson confirmed that the tracks remained closed on Monday morning, with efforts being made to contain a fuel spill resulting from the derailment. The spokesperson assured that there is currently no threat to public safety.
