The Transportation Safety Board of Canada recently released a report on a freight train derailment that occurred in northern Quebec last December. While the exact cause could not be determined, the agency found that the derailment likely occurred due to a rail breaking under stress from temperature fluctuations and the passage of another train with a wheel defect.
The incident took place about 60 kilometres north of Sept-Îles on Quebec’s North Shore. Fortunately, despite the automatic emergency brake being triggered, there were no injuries. The train, carrying iron ore, derailed with 29 railcars and one locomotive involved. Luckily, most of the spilled iron ore did not reach the nearby Nipissis river.
According to the report, the rail line had experienced 47 broken-rail incidents in 2025, with a significant portion happening in January and December. Interestingly, the track had been inspected just three days before the derailment, revealing no defects.
This incident sheds light on the challenges and potential risks faced by freight trains operating in challenging weather conditions and high-traffic areas.
