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7/6/2023
Today marks 10 years since the horrific train accident occurred in the town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec.
On July 6, 2013, an unattended Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway train rolled downhill at a speed reaching 65 mph into the town’s downtown area, where 63 tank cars carrying crude oil derailed, causing an explosion and fire. More than 1.5 million gallons of crude oil were spilled by the derailed tank cars.
The accident caused 47 fatalities and destroyed more than 30 buildings, or about half of the downtown structures. It was Canada’s fourth-deadliest rail accident overall and the deadliest accident involving a freight train.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined that the accident was caused by improperly leaving a train unattended on a mainline, the failure to set a sufficient amount of handbrakes and the lack of a backup safety mechanism.
“On this difficult day, we extend our continued condolences to all those impacted by this tragic occurrence,” said TSB Chair Kathy Fox in a press release.
Everyone in Canada and every Canadian railroader stands in solidarity with the people of Lac-Megantic and with those who lost loved ones in the tragedy, said Railway Association of Canada President and CEO Marc Brazeau in a statement.
“The memories of those who perished are forever etched on our collective soul. The events of that day serve as a stark reminder of every railroader’s singular mission: to deliver the goods Canadians need and use everyday, safely,” he said.
As part of its investigation into the accident, the TSB issued five recommendations to Transport Canada, three of which have been addressed: improvements to tank-car standards, route planning/analysis and emergency response assistance plans. The other two recommendations pertaining to the prevention of uncontrolled movements and enhanced regulatory surveillance remain open, TSB officials said.
Despite significant safety actions taken by Transport Canada and the rail industry to reduce the number of unplanned and uncontrolled movements of rail equipment, such events continue to occur, posing a significant risk to people, property and the environment, they said.
“Today, as we think of the people of Lac-Megantic, I want to emphasize that the TSB remains firmly committed to advocating for changes that will advance rail transportation safety so that no other Canadian community will ever have to face such a catastrophic event,” said Fox.
The Canadian federal government is continuing its efforts to strengthen rail safety across the nation so that such an event never happens again, and is determined to remove tracks in downtown Lac-Megantic by furthering work on the rail bypass, said Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra in a statement.
“Rail safety remains one of my top priorities. No community, no family should have to endure what Lac-Megantic did, and I can't imagine what the citizens of the municipality and surrounding area had to go through,” he said. “I speak from the heart when I say that Lac-Megantic is a town full of brave and resilient people who have persevered under unimaginable circumstances. We are with you, and will always be with you, in remembrance, in mourning and in the promise of a better future.”