Advocate calls for better rail safety on 12th anniversary of Lac-Mégantic disaster
MONTREAL — As citizens of Lac-Mégantic, Que., marked the 12th anniversary of a rail disaster that killed 47 people when a runaway train derailed and smashed into downtown, an advocate warned that more needs to be done to ensure rail safety.
On Sunday, the town lowered flags to half-mast, laid flowers and organized a moment of silence to commemorate the July 6, 2013, tragedy.
Officials also asked that the rail company not run trains through the area out of respect for the victims.
But spokesman for a citizens' rail safety group believes not enough has been done to ensure the town's some 6,000 residents are safe from future disasters.
Robert Bellefleur says trains have become longer and heavier, while a long-promised bypass to divert them from the city's core has not been built.
'Before, trains were about 80 wagons long on average...trains are now more than 200 wagons, are more than 15,000 feet long with big locomotives that often weigh more than 150 tonnes,' said Bellefleur, who is a spokesman for a group of citizens who are working ensure better rail safety in Lac-Mégantic
These 'monster' trains are travelling on rails lines built between 1880 and 1920 'for trains that were much lighter and much smaller,' Bellefleur said.
He believes trains are more dangerous now than at the start of the 2000s, and 'it's not just Lac-Mégantic that's at risk.'
In recent months, he said citizens have noticed wear and erosion around railway culverts near the town's entrance, which is 'nothing to reassure citizens,' Bellefleur said. The Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway sent workers to the site, he said.
In a statement, CPKC said the tracks are in good shape and well-maintained.
'The rail line running through Lac-Mégantic is safe for rail operations, as confirmed by numerous regular inspections, including one carried out on Saturday,' said company spokesperson André Hannoush in an email.
The 2013 derailment and fire destroyed much of the downtown core, forced about 2,000 people to evacuate their homes and spilled some six million litres of crude oil into the environment. The disaster happened when the brakes failed on a train parked in nearby Nantes and it barrelled down a slope and exploded in the heart of town.
In 2018, the federal and provincial governments committed to joint funding for a rail bypass to send trains around Lac-Mégantic's downtown. While land expropriations took place in 2023, the Canadian Transportation Agency has yet to greenlight construction and has requested additional information on the project's environmental impacts.
Some citizens in Lac-Mégantic and neighbouring communities have also become opposed to the bypass, citing concern with the route, cost and potential damage to wetlands and water supplies.
Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland issued a statement on Sunday marking the anniversary, and saluting the courage of 'an entire community that, year after year, continues to rebuild itself with dignity and resilience.'
She said the bypass was one of her priorities, and promised to work with the communities until it's completed.
Bellefleur, for his part, said Freeland is the sixth federal transport minister to make such promises.
'In that time, the years go by,' he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 6, 2025.
Audrey Sanikopoulos and Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Progress on wildfire near Kelowna airport
Vancouver Watch A fire that prompted evacuations over the weekend is now being held, allowing residents to return home.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Historic church celebrates 150 years
Winnipeg Watch A Manitoba church celebrated a significant milestone over the weekend with a day of food and festivities. CTV's Dan Timmerman was there.
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Wildfire fighter attacked by grizzly bear while on the job in northern B.C.
A B.C. wildfire fighter was scratched and bitten by a grizzly bear while on the job Friday, the B.C. Wildfire Service says. It happened Friday morning at the Summit Lake fire, about 110 kilometres west of Fort Nelson, in the province's far northeast, said B.C. Wildfire information assistant Emily Baker. "A crew leader was scouting ahead of the group and encountered a mother grizzly bear with two cubs," she said. "In a matter of seconds, the mother bear charged the individual." She said the crew leader used a "hand tool" to fight off the bear while yelling for help, and other crew members ran to the scene while running chainsaws and yelling in order to scare the bear off. The victim was airlifted to hospital with "fairly minor injuries" and has since been released, she said. Bear won't be destroyed Conservation officers say they interviewed the man and a witness, deeming the attack was in a remote location and "defensive in nature," and the service will therefore not try to capture or kill the animal. According to WildSafeBC, grizzly attacks are rare but can be fatal, though there is an average of fewer than one fatal attack in B.C. every five years. The service says that, unlike black bears, who are more likely to retreat from a perceived threat, grizzlies evolved in a treeless environment that has led to them attacking when they feel unsafe. The service recommends making noise while hiking in grizzly habitats in an attempt to avoid surprising them. Parks Canada says if a grizzly bear does attack, the reaction should depend on whether the animal is defensive or not. If it's defensive, for example, it's protecting its young, Parks Canada says you should: Appear non-threatening and speak in a calm voice. If the bear stops advancing, start slowly moving away. If it keeps coming closer, stand your ground, keep talking, and use bear spray. If the bear makes contact, fall on the ground, play dead and wait for the bear to leave. If it's not defensive, potentially looking at you as prey, looking at you intently with ears up, Parks Canada suggests: Speak in a firm voice and move out of the bear's path. If it follows you, stop and stand your ground. Make lots of loud noise. Act aggressively; try to intimidate the bear. If it gets close, use bear spray.
