Federal safety inspectors say they identified multiple deficiencies along the section of track in Repentigny where a 172-car CN freight train derailed on July 5, a finding that has renewed local concern about rail safety through residential areas.
Inspectors point to missing anchors, skewed ties and rail movement
A July 10 advisory from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) describes a stretch of the Joliette subdivision with signs of damage and wear. Inspectors reported that rail anchors were missing or displaced, several wooden rail ties were skewed, and the rails had shifted by as much as almost 9 cm in places.
The TSB warned that missing or displaced anchors can alter how stress is distributed on the rail and reduce both longitudinal and lateral track stability — conditions that can raise the chance of a derailment, particularly when track buckling occurs.
“The dilapidated state of the rail infrastructure — that is extremely concerning. CN has the power to fix this, so it should do so as quickly as possible,”
Repentigny Mayor Nicolas Dufour made the comments to media, underlining the anxiety of residents given that the corridor runs adjacent to homes. The derailment had earlier forced temporary evacuations, road closures and power outages; there were no injuries and no release of dangerous goods, authorities say.
Speed, temperature and local consequences
Investigators noted the locomotive was travelling south at 77 km/h at the time of the derailment, just under the line’s 80 km/h limit. The TSB also recorded an ambient temperature of 29 C on the day of the incident; because rails expand with heat, Transport Canada requires a speed reduction of 16 km/h when temperatures reach 30 C, a threshold the TSB said was nearly met.
In response, Transport Canada says it is working with the safety board and has temporarily lowered the speed limit at the derailment site by 16 km/h until post-repair inspections are completed. The department also said rail inspectors are monitoring CN’s remedial actions to ensure necessary safety measures are in place.
- Derailment date: July 5
- Number of cars: 172 (approximately 49 cars off the track)
- Locomotive speed at time of event: 77 km/h
The Repentigny city council unanimously approved a motion asking the federal minister to consider permanently reducing freight train speeds through residential areas. Mayor Dufour has also urged Transport Canada to pause operations on the corridor until repairs are completed and verified.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Train cars | 172 |
| Cars derailed (estimate) | 49 |
| Speed at derailment | 77 km/h |
| Temperature that day | 29 C |
CN Rail has provided preliminary internal findings to federal authorities, according to a statement in media reports, but did not immediately respond to follow-up requests. The TSB has urged Transport Canada to inspect the entire Joliette subdivision — the corridor that connects northern Quebec with Montreal — to confirm track integrity and report any remedial steps back to the safety board.
For Repentigny residents, the incident raises broader questions about the safety of freight operations running through densely populated neighbourhoods and the adequacy of inspections and maintenance on key freight corridors. Municipal officials say they will continue pressing federal regulators and the railway for prompt repairs and clearer assurance that risks have been addressed.
