On July 5, 2026, a Canadian National Railway (CN) freight train derailed in Repentigny, Quebec, disrupting local rail services. The incident occurred in the Le Gardeur sector, a residential area northeast of Montreal, when approximately 45 railcars left the tracks around 5 p.m. Remarkably, no injuries were reported, and no hazardous materials were released from the derailed cars. The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) deployed a team of investigators to the site to determine the cause of the incident. The TSB is collecting information on train handling, track conditions, and analyzing data from locomotive voice and video recorders. As of now, the exact cause of the derailment remains undetermined.
Local authorities, including Repentigny Mayor Nicolas Dufour, have expressed concern over the incident, especially considering its proximity to residential areas. The derailment occurred one day before the 13-year anniversary of the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster, which resulted in 47 fatalities.
CN Rail has confirmed that none of the derailed railcars contained hazardous materials and has stated that it will provide updates on the situation as more information becomes available. The company is working closely with the TSB and local authorities to ensure the safe resumption of rail operations in the area.
Residents who were temporarily evacuated from the area have been allowed to return home, as safety checks have been completed and no hazardous leaks were detected. The cleanup and investigation efforts are ongoing, with rail operations expected to resume fully once the area is deemed safe.
The TSB continues to investigate the cause of the derailment, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.