The mayor of Repentigny, Que., is calling on the federal transport minister to suspend rail traffic through the city until CN Rail implements corrective measures to the railway track.
This comes after the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released an update Thursday morning to its investigation into the July 5 train derailment in the city, northeast of Montreal.
The TSB found the track had “several deficiencies” when a train carrying 172 wagons derailed in the middle of a residential neighbourhood.
“What we learned this morning is concerning, so this changes the situation,” said Nicolas Dufour, Repentigny’s mayor.
In a statement, the TSB shared a letter it sent to Transport Canada on July 10, outlining its preliminary observations in the early days of the investigation.
“Specifically, between Mile 118 and Mile 121, rail anchors were missing or had displaced in a few locations. Furthermore, several ties were skewed and were no longer perpendicular to the rails,” wrote the TSB’s director of investigations, Vincenzo De Angelis.
“Given these risks, Transport Canada may wish to consider verifying the integrity of the track on the CN Joliette Subdivision to ensure that it is safe and meets operational requirements.”
A couple of days earlier, on July 8, CN Rail resumed its train operations, saying trains were rolling through at significantly lower speeds compared to the usual 80 km/h limit.
In response to the unease from residents and the Repentigny mayor, CN Rail clarified, saying its team had completely rebuilt the track and its foundation over 750 metres.
The July 10 TSB letter also shows the train was carrying 13 tank cars containing dangerous goods residue. CN Rail had said, in the aftermath of the derailment, that no hazardous substances were on board given the railcars carrying diesel fuel had been previously emptied.
No injuries, leaks or fires were reported in the derailment’s aftermath.
In the evening of July 10, Transport Canada sent out a news release, saying its inspectors were monitoring the railway’s response to the resumption of train traffic.
After derailment, Repentigny, Que., asks Ottawa to reduce freight train speeds in urban areas
Days after derailment, trains are back on tracks in Repentigny, Que. — and residents are uneasy
Dufour said the TSB’s statement on Thursday changes how the city and its residents are feeling.
“We’d assumed that if Transport Canada had given the go-ahead for the resumption, it was because the relevant authorities were evidently satisfied with the measures currently in place,” he told Radio-Canada.
“We are officially requesting that operations be suspended until these repairs are completed.”
Earlier this week, the City of Repentigny had asked the federal Transport Ministry to consider permanently reducing train speeds in urban areas.
It had also asked the federal government to temporarily reduce train speeds in the city until the TSB’s investigation into the incident is complete.
In an email statement on Thursday, Transport Canada spokesperson Hicham Ayoun said the operating speed of trains in the affected area has been reduced to 10 miles per hour — or about 16 kilometres per hour — until certain conditions are met.
“This restriction will remain in effect until Transport Canada has completed its post-repair inspections, CN has completed its internal review of the causes and implications of the occurrence, and Transport Canada is satisfied that all applicable safety requirements have been met,” Ayoun said.
He also confirmed that Transport Canada conducted a track inspection in the affected area on July 10 and is following up with CN to “ensure that all applicable safety standards are being met.”
“Transport Canada will not hesitate to take any appropriate action if safety or regulatory compliance deficiencies are identified.”
Transport Canada is also assessing the integrity of the track on the CN Joliette Subdivision.
In Thursday’s statement, the TSB said its investigation is ongoing. It was given a classification reserved for incidents where “it is quite likely that new safety lessons will be identified and that transportation safety will be advanced by reducing risks to persons, property, or the environment.”
Days after derailment, trains are back on tracks in Repentigny, Que. — and residents are uneasy
