No injuries after CN merchandise train derails in Le Gardeur sector of Repentigny

A CN merchandise train derailment happened Sunday afternoon in Repentigny, in the Le Gardeur sector – no injuries have been reported.

“A rail incident occurred at the intersection of Boulevard Le Bourg-Neuf and Rue Émile-Genest,” the City of Repentigny stated in a post on its social media accounts. “Our emergency response teams (firefighters and police) as well as CN crews are currently on the scene.”

The City of Repentigny confirmed that there were no leaks, fires, or injuries to report, and that the railcars had been inspected by CN, which confirmed that no hazardous materials were present.

A railway spokesperson says 46 train cars derailed and that while three had previously transported diesel, they were not loaded.

“People who were evacuated as a precautionary measure can return to their homes. The area is safe,” the city’s Facebook post states. “CN will be carrying out dismantling and cleanup work throughout the night, which will cause a lot of noise in the area.”

An investigation to determine the cause of the derailment is underway. The affected streets have been closed to traffic and will reopen once all debris has been removed. A detour has been set up by authorities.

Several photos and videos of the derailment were making the rounds on social media following the incident.

The City of Repentigny has notified residents that the power grid was affected by the incident and that Hydro-Québec is on site to carry out repairs.

The city’s mayor, Nicolas Dufour, explained in a Facebook post on Sunday evening that cleanup efforts are beginning and that traffic in the area is likely to be disrupted for a few days.

“I would like to thank the residents I met at the scene for their resilience and their smiles despite the disruptive situation that has just occurred,” he wrote.

Pascale Déry, Quebec’s Minister of the Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife, and Parks, also posted a message on social media on Sunday following the announcement of the derailment.

“A huge thank you to the City of Repentigny Fire Prevention and Firefighting Department and the City of Repentigny Police Department for their rapid and effective response,” she commented.

She added that she and the Minister of Internal Security, Ian Lafrenière, were monitoring the situation “very closely.”

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews