VIA Rail Ocean train derails in Quebec after striking parked trucks

A VIA Rail passenger train derailed in eastern Quebec during the early hours after colliding with two parked trucks, an incident that disrupted services but left passengers and crew unharmed.

The overnight derailment involved the Ocean service near Kamouraska. Provincial police said the train struck two trucks that had been left too close to the railway line, causing the locomotives at the front of the train to leave the tracks at around 1:30 a.m.

While those travelling on board escaped injury, the drivers of the trucks involved were treated for minor injuries. Police from the Sûreté du Québec said the positioning of the vehicles was a key factor in the collision.

Following the impact, the train lost heating, prompting officials to move passengers to a nearby community centre to keep them safe and warm. Damage to the railway infrastructure was also reported, leading to delays on the route.

The disruption affected other services on the line, with the westbound Ocean reportedly halted at Rivière-du-Loup, around 21 kilometres from the derailment site. The location of the crash is approximately 180 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.

Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the derailment.

Image: VIA Rail