Montreal to Halifax passenger train collides with two truck trailers northeast of Quebec City
Posted January 12, 2026 12:16 pm.
A train carrying more than 100 passengers derailed in the early hours of Monday morning in Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, when it collided with two truck trailers.
The collision occurred around 1:30 a.m. The Via Rail train, which had departed from Montreal and was heading towards Halifax, collided with two 53-foot enclosed truck trailers that were parked near the tracks.
The 124 people on board the train were not injured, nor were the four people in the vehicles pulling the trailers. The two lead locomotives and several other cars sustained damage.
The train passengers were taken to the Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska town hall while awaiting assistance from Via Rail. They were able to resume their journey to Halifax Monday morning by bus.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Canadian National Police will conduct the investigation to determine the causes and circumstances of the collision.
“Via Rail is working with local authorities and relevant partners to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and to restore normal service as safely and efficiently as possible,” the company wrote in a press release.
“Via Rail sincerely apologizes to all passengers affected by this disruption,” it added, noting that compensation measures will be offered, in accordance with its policy.
The Ministry of the Environment was also notified of the situation due to a diesel spill from the damaged locomotives.
Because the incident occurred on a single-track section, passengers on a train travelling in the opposite direction, between Halifax and Montreal, also had to complete their journey by bus.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
